Free guide · Local Court
Your first court date.
A short guide for accused persons attending a Local Court mention for the first time. What a mention is, who is who in the room, the four most common outcomes of a first mention, and the practical rules of the courtroom. Free. No email required.
What is in the guide.
- Before you walk in. What a mention is, what it is not, and what to bring.
- In the courtroom. The magistrate, the prosecutor, your lawyer, the court officer, and where you stand.
- What is likely to happen. The four most common outcomes of a first mention.
- What an adjournment is actually for. Why the instinct to deal with it today is the wrong instinct.
- Practical rules of the room. Dress, phones, conduct, support people, and bail conditions.
- The summary. A checklist if you forget everything else.
Why we are giving this away.
The first time you walk into a Local Court is the moment that most accused persons feel the matter become real. Most of what people worry about in advance is not what actually happens at a first mention. This guide explains, in plain English, what to expect, who is who in the room, and what the four most common outcomes are. The aim is to make the day calm enough that you can pay attention to what your lawyer is doing.
There is no email opt-in and no form. Download the PDF. Print a copy. Read it the night before your mention. If you do not yet have a lawyer, our phone number is 0421 717 019 and the line is staffed.
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This guide is general legal information about New South Wales Local Court procedure. It is not legal advice for any particular case. For advice on a real matter, contact us through our contact page or phone 0421 717 019.