Facing a criminal charge is stressful for anyone. For people who are more comfortable in Mandarin or Cantonese, or who are new to the Australian system, it can be bewildering. Chua Tan Associates advises clients directly in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Why language matters
- You need to understand exactly what you are charged with and what the evidence is.
- Decisions such as whether to plead guilty must be made with full understanding.
- Family members, who often support the person charged, can also be kept properly informed.
Issues we often see
- Visa holders worried about cancellation or future applications.
- Students and workers concerned about study, employment and travel.
- Business owners facing fraud, employment or regulatory charges.
- Family violence matters where cultural expectations and family pressure complicate the situation.
What we do
We act in police interviews, bail applications, Magistrates’ Court hearings, pleas, trials in the higher courts and appeals. We work with experienced barristers where a case needs one, and keep you and your family informed throughout.
If you are not an Australian citizen, a criminal charge can also affect your visa. A conviction, and particularly a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months or more, can mean failing the character test under the Migration Act. Our firm also practises immigration law, so we consider the visa consequences from the start.
Related reading
Contact us
If you or a family member has been contacted by police, arrested or charged, get advice before you do anything else. Call Chua Tan Associates on +61 3 9602 3988 or email chuatan@tpg.com.au. Our office is at Level 2, 262 Queen Street, Melbourne. We act in courts across Victoria and advise in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Chua Tan Associates, Barristers, Solicitors & Notary Public, Melbourne. General information about Victorian criminal law only, not legal advice for your situation.
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