Court and charge documents
- Bring the charge sheet, Court Attendance Notice, summons or any document requiring court attendance.
- Bring the police facts sheet and any preliminary or full brief of evidence already served.
- Record the next court date, court location and the outcome of earlier appearances.
Bail and other orders
- Bring the bail undertaking and identify every reporting, residence, non-contact or travel condition.
- Bring any intervention order, apprehended violence order or related family violence document.
- Tell the solicitor immediately if a condition cannot be met or a court date is imminent.
Your instructions and evidence
- Prepare a private chronology of the incident and any police interview.
- Preserve messages, photographs, documents and other electronic evidence in their original form.
- List potential witnesses and how they may be contacted, but do not pressure or coach any witness.
Personal material
- Prepare identification and details of employment, study, caring responsibilities and relevant treatment.
- Do not obtain character references or medical reports until their purpose and appropriate content have been discussed.
- Write down the questions you need answered about plea, bail, evidence, court procedure and possible outcomes.
Before the appointment
Keep original documents safe, preserve electronic records and bring a short list of the questions and outcomes you want to discuss. Tell the solicitor about urgent deadlines at the beginning of the conference.