PRACTICE AREAS

Our principal and director Janet Winn has a wealth of experience and can represent you in any criminal or traffic matter.  

Areas of practice include;

• Defended hearings/trials
• Sentences
• Apprehended domestic and personal violence orders (ADVO and APVO)
• Drivers licence appeals
• Drink/Drug driving
• Bail applications
• Mental health applications 
• Forensic procedure applications
• Sentence annulments/Appeals
• Traffic infringements
• Negligent/dangerous driving (including causing GBH or death)
• Assaults and offences against the person
• Possess and supply drugs
• Kidnapping/extortion 
• Robbery
• Identity/money laundering offences
• Firearm/prohibited weapon offences
• Applications to revoke Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO)
• Larceny/shoplifting/fraud
• Break and Enter/trespass
• Damage to property
• Riot/affray
• Public mischief offences

Defended Hearings

Winn Legal Solicitors can represent your case from start to finish.

The Principal Lawyer, Janet Winn, is an experienced advocate and can expertly address the full extent of criminal matters in the local court. If you have been charged with a strictly indictable offence, or an offence which will be dealt with on indictment, Winn Legal Solicitors’ have access to Sydney’s most reputable and exceptional Barristers.  

Sentences     

If you wish to plead guilty to an offence, and you are in need of an experienced  solicitor to   represent you at court to ensure the best possible sentencing outcome, Winn Legal Solicitors can assist. 

A sentence is more than just punishment, it is also about deterrence, rehabilitation, accountability, denunciation, protection of the community and recognition of any harm caused to a victim. An effective sentence submission must address all of these factors. 

Appearing as a self-represented defendant at court can be a daunting and overwhelming experience.  Preparation is paramount, but equally as important is being able to confidently and clearly address the court. A solicitor does more than just advocate for your legal rights, they speak on your behalf. 

A plea of guilty to a criminal charge is done by accepting the charges against you and the allegation contained in the police facts. It is important to get legal advice as soon as you are charged or served with a police charge. If you get to court, and you haven’t received legal advice, ask for a short adjournment to receive the advice. This shouldn’t affect the (on-average)   25% discount on the sentence given to people who enter early guilty pleas. 

If you agree with the charges, but don’t agree to the facts contained   in the police material, you can still plead guilty to the elements of the offence but contest the facts. The court will then set the matter down for a disputed-facts hearing. A request can also be made to the police to seek   amendments to the facts that better reflect your version of events, and thus avoid the matter going to a hearing. 

An Apprehended Domestic and Personal Violence Order (AVO) is an enforceable order seeking to protect a person in need of protection (PINOP) by ordering the defendant comply with specific conditions which can include limiting and restricting contact or movement.

Police will apply for an AVO if a defendant has been charged with a domestic violence or a stalk or intimidation offence. Or, if they suspect or  believe that a domestic violence or a stalk or intimidation offence has recently been, or is being committed (or is imminent, or is likely to be   committed) against the person for whose protection an order would be made.  Additionally, police will apply for an AVO to protect children from violence and other sexual offences.

If you have been served with an AVO (or charged with domestic violence or a stalking or   intimidation offence) you can expect the police and the courts to adopt firm action. If you are convicted of breaching of an AVO with an act of violence,  the courts must consider a term of imprisonment as a starting point on sentence. A court  ordered AVO may not result in a criminal record. However, it can have other lasting  consequences affecting firearms’ licences, future relationships, contact with children, and working-with-children checks. It is therefore essential that   you get legal advice to ensure the best possible outcome. 

You may want to agree to the AVO without admitting any wrong-doing but vary the conditions   sought. Or, you may want to dispute the AVO and proceed to a court hearing to determine its validity. Either way Winn Legal Solicitors’ can assist to achieve the desired outcome.

Conversely, you may wish to apply for an AVO  for your own protection. The police will apply for an AVO on your behalf if it involves domestic violence. However, if the reason you require protection is not domestic violence related (such as a neighbour dispute) we can assist  you in your application and subsequent court proceedings. 

A driver’s licence is a valuable privilege worth protecting, and losing your licence can sometimes cause hardship which may exceed the wrong doing. If you have lost your licence you may have the right to appeal the decision at court. Equally if you are facing Police action that may result in the loss of your drivers licence you should seek legal advice to ensure the best possible outcome at court. 

Call us 0411 174 575 for a no-cost case evaluation to discuss. 

Have you been charged with a drink or drug driving offence? These offences can result in serious consequences such as expensive fines, terms of imprisonment, loss of your driver’s licence, and not to mention the personal and private consequences. When dealing with these types of offences the paramount consideration of the court is public safety. 

Making bad choices is unfortunately natural human error. However, this doesn’t mean we need to let our mistakes define us. It’s how we learn and grow from them that matters. Winn Legal Solicitors on Sydney's Northern Beaches can help you get your life back on track following a drug or drink driving charge. 

Call us now on 0411 174 575 for a cost-free case evaluation.  

Has your friend or loved one been charged by the Police and is bail refused? Or are you subject to bail conditions and require a bail variation? Call us any time for immediate legal advice

on 0411 174 575. 

Bail will be refused if there is an unacceptable risk of: the future commission of a serious offence, a failure to attend court, harm being caused to a victim or witnesses, or the interference of evidence. Bail may be granted if these risks can be sufficiently mitigated by bail conditions.

In order to make a bail variation, you must serve notice of your intention on the Police 48hours in advance and file your application at court.  

(Known previously as section 32)

In appropriate circumstances, a person who is charged with a criminal offence, who also has a mental health impairment &/or a cognitive impairment, may be diverted away from criminal punishment and instead dealt with under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 No 12,  receiving treatment rather than criminal penalties. 

Call us if you need help in the submission of a mental health application 0411 174 575.

Have you been served with a request by the police to provide a sample of your DNA as an untested former offender (UFO)? Or, perhaps police consider you a suspect for a crime and want to obtain your DNA, fingerprints or a photograph of you so it can be used (for example) in a photo-board? 

Winn Legal Solicitors can help you to ensure that your civil rights aren’t unduly impinged upon. 

Have you been sentenced in your absence at court and require an annulment? An appeal can be lodged to annul the sentence if you were (for example) hindered from attending court due to illness.

An application must be made within 2 years of the conviction, unless a special application is made to the Attorney General. It is important to consider that only one application for an annulment can be made unless the court grants leave for a second application.