Criminal & Traffic
Fraud and white-collar enquiries may involve financial records, business transactions, an investigation or formal charges. The issue can overlap with corporate, tax or employment matters without being resolved by ordinary business advice.
General information only — not legal advice. This Australian overview is not a statement of every state or territory’s law. Check the jurisdiction and current requirements with an appropriately qualified adviser.
Identify whether the enquiry is for an individual or an organisation and whether their interests differ. A regulatory request, internal investigation and criminal proceeding may call for separate advice. Ask about lawful preservation and production of records rather than altering or discarding material.
Organise the following material you already lawfully hold. This is a preparation list, not a complete evidentiary requirement. Ask the verified adviser what they need and how to send it securely.
Keep originals and dates intact. Use a short initial enquiry for a conflict and suitability check before sending sensitive documents.
Identify whether the enquiry follows an internal investigation, regulator contact, police papers or a court proceeding. Explain whether advice is for an individual, company or officer. Ask the lawyer to identify possible conflicts and the accepted scope before providing a large collection of business records.
Advice to a company is not automatically personal advice to a director or employee. Clarify the client relationship and any separate representation needed before assuming the business’s lawyer protects every participant’s position.
Who should receive separate advice, and how should the request and relevant records be handled?
Ask the adviser to explain the assumptions behind the answer, any missing information and what would change the proposed next step. You can request an initial assessment without assuming that full representation is included.
Start by identifying the records and how you lawfully hold them. Ask the lawyer what is needed and how it should be transferred. Preserve originals and avoid altering, deleting or collecting additional material without understanding your obligations.
Compare the defined work and exclusions, not just the initial price. Ask about GST, third-party expenses, later stages and what happens if the scope changes. Our legal fees guide explains useful questions, and the comparison worksheet helps record proposals.
For a related legal task, read corporate law & m&a. Use both sets of preparation questions if your enquiry spans the two tasks.
Define the work before comparing the fee
The specific notice, charge or licence decision matters more than a broad search label. Tell the office about any appearance or response date and ask whether it can assess the immediate timing.
Mention connected issues when you enquire. One engagement may not cover every part of your situation.
Use these primary resources for background and current pathways. A state-specific resource is an example for that jurisdiction, not a rule for all Australia. Broad regulator and tribunal links do not establish your eligibility or a legal entitlement.
NSW criminal-law background, not a national statement of offence or procedure.
Australian corporate regulation and business information.
Our document lists, questions and examples are original editorial preparation prompts. Follow the relevant authority for current requirements and seek individual advice before acting.
See all areas of law → · Lawyer selection and consultation guides → · Legal glossary →
book a lawyer