Consults

Forensic Psychiatrists

Lawson Legal Criminal Law can engage a forensic psychiatrist to provide an expert opinion in relation to a client's competency to stand trial, and issues pertaining to defences based on mental disease or defect (ie insanity).

A forensic psychiatrist can compile a forensic psychiatric report, which is submitted to the court for sentencing purposes.

A forensic psychiatrist will also give evidence in court in support of a client's mental health.

Forensic Psychologists

Forensic psychologists can provide expert evidence to the court on behalf of the client in relation to:

• sentencing options;
• treatment recommendations; and
• assessment of mitigating factors of a client's matter, including the determination of future risk of offending.

Lawson Legal Criminal Law consults with forensic psychologists in providing the best criminal legal advice to their clients, in addition to, assisting the client's ongoing needs after their matter has been resolved.

Forensic Scientists

Forensic scientists are engaged to independently examine and provide evidence in court as expert witnesses, on the client’s behalf.

Forensic scientists examine:
    •    crime scenes, including analysis of police photographs and reports;
    •    physical and chemical analysis of documents;
    •    police forensic ballistic reports;
    •    fire and explosion scenes to establish origin and cause;
    •    materials such as fibres, metals, soils and gunshot residues;
    •    biological material for use in DNA profiling;
    •    botanical identification of plant materials; and
    •    detect, enhance and recover fingerprints, footprints, tyre marks and tracks and other imprints.

Forensic scientists are often used, in serious matters, by Lawson Legal Criminal Law to analyse and provide comprehensive criminal legal advice and evidence at trial to best support the client’s defence.

Forensic Toxicologists

Forensic toxicologists are consulted, upon the client’s request, to forensically examine toxicity levels.

Their examinations include: identifying and analysing illicit drugs and poisons, in human tissue and bodily fluids, to achieve accurate blood alcohol and drug levels.

Forensic toxicologists compile toxicology reports and provide evidence in court, as expert witnesses, in support of the client’s defence.

Motor Vehicle Accident Consultants

Defence lawyers at Lawson Legal Criminal Law frequently engage motor vehicle accident consultants, where an accident has caused serious harm or death of a person.

The consultant will attend and examine the scene of the accident before, providing a comprehensive analysis, outlining the cause of the crash and any contributing factors (ie vehicle defects).

Motor vehicle accident consultants will examine police crash reconstruction reports and determine independent findings, which can be used as defence expert evidence in court.

Private Investigators

Lawson Legal can engage private investigators upon the client’s request.

The private investigator often obtains witness statements, video or still images and other evidence, which is instrumental to the client’s defence.

Private investigators have been consulted by Lawson Legal, on numerous matters, to provide additional evidence in achieving the discontinuance of prosecutions.

Senior Counsel

A defence lawyer will often consult with senior counsel (Queen’s Counsel) in relation to serious or complex matters.

On instructions from the client, Lawson Legal Criminal Law will refer your matter to senior counsel to obtain criminal legal advice.

Senior counsel is also available to represent the client at trial and sentence hearings, and have been used by Lawson Legal Criminal Law in matters including, but not limited to, murder, armed robbery and complex fraud matters.