Legal News - Go To Court Lawyers Legal Articles

At Australian law firm, Go To Court Lawyers, our mission is to ensure that, no matter where you are in the country, you can access expert legal representation in any Australian court, and fast. To help deliver these services, Go To Court has rolled out the first of its new fleet of vehicles. The first…

OVER $6000 IN PRIZES UP FOR GRABS IN AUSTRALIAN LEGAL WRITERS CHALLENGE Go To Court Lawyers is proud to announce the inaugural Australian Legal Writers Challenge is now open. Budding writers holding an Australian law degree or in their final year of an Australian law degree are invited to enter by submitting an article pertaining…

Extraordinary emergency defence successful in traffic law case One of Go To Court Lawyers’ expert solicitors, Ali Rana, has today won a difficult Queensland traffic law case by successfully arguing for an extension to the usual application of a general criminal law defence, extraordinary emergency. Mr Rana’s client had been charged with driving through a…

On 12 November 2015, the federal government introduced into the Senate the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No 1) 2015 (the Bill). The Senate referred the Bill to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (the Committee) for investigation and comment, and their report was tabled in Parliament on 15 February 2016. The Bill The…

After a battle to secure sufficient support in Parliament and a vote on the Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 in the early hours of the morning on 18 February 2016, Queensland will soon become subject to ‘lock-out’ laws in an effort to curb alcohol-fuelled violence across the state. Set to commence in July…

On 9 February 2016, the ACT parliament passed the Road Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2015 (No 2). While yet to be notified, this new legislation brings with it a number of changes to drink and drug driving laws in the ACT including a significant change to the powers of police to test drivers for alcohol…

On 7 July 2012, 18 year old Thomas Kelly died following a single, random and unprovoked punch to the head while walking with his girlfriend in King’s Cross, Sydney. Then, on 11 January 2014, another 18 year old, Daniel Christie, died in hospital, also as a result of a single unprovoked punch to the head.…

In Queensland, if your licence is suspended or you are disqualified from driving as a result of drink driving, driving under the influence, or failing to provide a breath or saliva sample to police, you may be able to obtain a restricted driver’s licence or ‘work licence’ to allow you to continue working. However, you…

Authorities were left dumbfounded after a Gold Coast woman found behind the wheel of her car recorded a breath alcohol reading of 0.48 – almost 10 times the legal limit. Paramedics found the woman passed out in her car outside a Runaway Bay cafe. She was transport to Gold Coast University Hospital where blood tests confirmed…

News reports in the last couple of days indicate that Robert Hughes, former Australian actor best known for his role in ‘Hey Dad’, has lodged an appeal to the High Court against his conviction and sentence for multiple child sex offences spanning two decades. Grounds for Appeal – Sentence The appeal against his sentence is based on…

How well do you know your Australian road rules? Take our quiz to find out how you rate! Don’t forget to share your results with your friends. If you want to find out more about road rules, head to gotocourt.com.au/traffic-law or, for drink and drug driving rules, see gotocourt.com.au/drink-driving. When driving, you can use your mobile…

A number of high profile incidents of family and domestic violence in Queensland has prompted a government review and a raft of new and proposed legislative and non-legislative changes aimed at its prevention. In February 2015, a Special Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence set up by the Queensland Government delivered their report with quite…

Much has been made of the outcome of Gerard Baden-Clay’s appeal against his murder conviction, handed down today in the Queensland Court of Appeal. Social media sites are erupting with horror that Baden-Clay’s conviction for murder has been overturned and substituted with a conviction for manslaughter, and with claims that he changed his story. But…

Fittingly, on the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, the Australian Freedom Network (AFN) has been launched in Canberra. Its goal is to find practical ways to free people who are effectively enslaved in Australia. According to their website, the ‘Global Slavery Index estimates 35.8 million people are enslaved globally with 3,000 people estimated…

The New South Wales government has today launched its first drug-driving campaign in the wake of statistical evidence showing many more drivers are being caught behind the wheel under the effects of illicit drugs than they are under the effects of alcohol. For this year alone, while 1 in every 305 random breath tests (RBT)…

The New South Wales government has announced increased penalties for using a mobile phone while driving. The new penalties will commence over the Christmas holiday period, beginning on December 24. An offence is committed if the driver of a vehicle handles a mobile phone while driving, if they rest the phone on their leg, hold…

Take the quiz below to test your knowledge around Australian hoon laws and see how you score. If you would like to read up on some of the laws first then check out our full article on Hoon Laws in Australia here. Do mandatory periods of suspension apply to hooning offences? Yes No Correct! Wrong!…

Need an appointment with a lawyer, but can’t make it in to their office? In an Australian first, Go To Court Lawyers, a National Law Firm and referral service, has launched Video-Link Bookings, a new function on the company’s website that enables clients to book a one-hour consultation with a lawyer via Skype or FaceTime.…

Australian’s understand how important the law is in business. When individuals decide to go into business for themselves this importance is further realised and a more intricate relationship is formed between entrepreneurs and the law. Five, young Australian entrepreneurs realised this through the development of their App, Clothesline. Go To Court Lawyers asked them about…

If you have been found guilty of a criminal offence you may be able to avoid having a conviction recorded against you if the Court chooses to dismiss the charge under section 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. What sort of crimes may be dealt with under Section 10? Any criminal or traffic…