Russo Lawyers is a boutique Melbourne criminal defence practice
delivering direct principal access, strategic preparation, and courtroom advocacy across Victoria.
Or call (03) 7040 9825 - same-day response to all matters.
Available after hours by mobile
Free · Confidential · Same-day response
ADMISSIONS
Supreme Court of Victoria
COURTS
All Victorian Courts
PRACTICE
Boutique · One Principal
ACCESS
Direct · No Handoffs
WHAT TO EXPECT
Every Victorian criminal matter moves through four key stages. The earlier you have a lawyer involved, the more options you have.
Police charge you, and release on summons or bail is considered. Early legal advice at this stage shapes every step that follows.
Your first court date. Pleas are indicated, evidence is filed, and procedural directions are set.
An opportunity to narrow the issues before a magistrate and negotiate the charges. For indictable matters, the prosecution evidence is examined before the case proceeds.
The matter is resolved: a contested hearing tests the evidence; a plea hearing allows your circumstances to be fully presented to the court.
CRIMINAL LAW EXPERTISE
Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic)
From possession and diversion through to trafficking and cultivation. Strategic defence tailored to the charge and the court.
Read moreCrimes Act 1958 (Vic)
Common assault to gross violence and serious injury. Rigorous case analysis from the first mention to contested hearing.
Read moreFamily Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic)
Representation for applicants and respondents across FVIO and PSIO proceedings at all stages.
Read more about Intervention OrdersCrimes Act 1958 (Vic)
The most serious charges in Victoria require the most thorough preparation. Sam works with leading barristers and forensic experts.
Read moreCrimes Act 1958 (Vic) / Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
Image-based abuse, sextortion, and grooming matters. Discreet, technically rigorous defence for complex digital allegations.
Read moreCrimes Act 1958 (Vic)
Theft, burglary, robbery, and fraud defence across the Magistrates, County and Supreme Courts of Victoria.
Read moreEvery matter begins with Sam. Not a paralegal, not an intake form. You sit with the principal, explain what happened in full, and ask every question you need to ask. That conversation shapes everything.
Sam reviews the prosecution evidence, identifies weaknesses, and maps the viable paths. Some matters are best resolved through negotiation; others require a full contested hearing. The strategy is built around your specific circumstances, not a template.
In court, Sam brings preparation and composure. His time as a Court Registrar at the Magistrates' Court of Victoria means he understands how cases are assessed from the bench, and how to present yours most effectively.
When served with an intervention order, the strategy depends on your circumstances. There is no single right answer, but there are three distinct paths Sam works through with every client.
Best when speed matters and risk is low
Where the application is opposed, Sam prepares a full defence. Evidence is analysed, witnesses are identified, and the matter proceeds to a contested hearing. The applicant bears the burden of proving each element of the order.
Best when facts are complex or disputed
An order is agreed to without any admission of the underlying allegations. This approach resolves proceedings while preserving your record and avoiding the risks of a contested hearing.
Best when outcome must be robustly defended
In appropriate matters, proceedings can be resolved by way of undertaking to the court. Undertakings carry no finding and impose no order, but must be carefully negotiated to protect your interests.
One of Victoria's most respected criminal lawyers.
Samuel Russo is a quick-thinking, proactive lawyer with a passion for criminal law and access to justice. He founded Russo Lawyers as a boutique Melbourne criminal defence practice to deliver strategic, fearless, and client-focused representation to clients across Victoria.
A disciplined approach to legal practice, underpinned by strong advocacy and attention to detail, has established Samuel as one of Victoria's most respected criminal lawyers.
Sam handles every matter personally. When you call the firm, you speak with the lawyer running your case. No handoffs, no junior files.
Sam began his career as a Court Registrar at the Magistrates' Court of Victoria. He knows how matters move through the system, what registrars and magistrates look for, and where preparation creates advantage.
Criminal matters require a plan, not a script. Sam analyses the prosecution's case early, identifies every available argument, and builds a defence strategy specific to your facts.
You will know the cost of your matter before work begins. No surprises in your invoice; no billing in 6-minute units without explanation. Clear costs agreements, plain language.
These are the questions our clients ask most often. Nothing too basic. Nothing off-limits.
Time-sensitive?
Do not wait. Early legal advice significantly changes outcomes in criminal matters. Call Sam directly on (03) 7040 9825 for a same-day response.
In Victoria, you have a right to silence and are not legally required to answer police questions beyond providing your name and address. Attending a police interview without first speaking to a lawyer is one of the most common ways people inadvertently damage their own defence.
Police interviews are recorded and can be tendered as evidence in court. Even a conversation that feels informal can be used against you. Before attending any interview, including one framed as a casual chat, contact Russo Lawyers. Sam will advise whether to attend, what to say, and whether the police invitation amounts to a formal caution.
For eligible first-time offenders in Victoria, the Criminal Diversion Program may allow charges to be resolved without a finding of guilt and without a criminal record. Eligibility depends on the offence type, the police, and the Magistrate approval.
Diversion is available for some summary offences heard in the Magistrates Court. Conditions typically include a donation, a letter of apology, or a counselling program. Not all matters qualify, and police consent is required. Early legal advice is essential: the opportunity for diversion is usually assessed at or before the first mention.
An intervention order is a civil protective order made by the Magistrates Court. A criminal charge is a prosecution for a specific offence. The two can arise from the same incident but follow different legal processes and carry different consequences.
An intervention order (IVO) does not result in a criminal conviction, though breaching one is a criminal offence under the Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) or Personal Safety Intervention Orders Act 2010 (Vic). A criminal charge, such as assault, goes through the criminal jurisdiction and can result in a conviction, fine, or imprisonment. Many matters involve both: police may apply for an IVO and also charge the respondent with assault arising from the same events.
You should speak with a criminal lawyer as soon as you have been charged, summonsed to court, or invited for a police interview. Early advice is not just useful: it can change the range of outcomes available to you.
The earlier a lawyer is involved, the more options are open. At the investigation stage, legal advice protects your right to silence. At the charge stage, it shapes bail, the plea, and the strategy. At the mention stage, it opens negotiations with the prosecution. Waiting until the day before your court date limits every one of those opportunities. A brief consultation with Sam at any stage will tell you where you stand.
Russo Lawyers offers a free initial consultation for new criminal matters. In that consultation Sam will review your circumstances, explain the law that applies, and outline your options.
There is no obligation after the initial consultation. If you decide to engage the firm, Sam will provide a costs agreement setting out fees clearly before any work is invoiced. For straightforward matters heard in the Magistrates Court, fixed-fee arrangements are available.
The Magistrates' Court hears summary offences and less serious indictable matters. The County Court hears serious indictable offences, often by jury trial. The Supreme Court handles the most serious charges, including murder, which carry potential life sentences.
Most criminal matters in Victoria begin in the Magistrates' Court. Summary offences such as minor possession, common assault, and most traffic offences are finalised there. Indictable offences that proceed to trial are committed to either the County Court or, for the most serious matters such as murder and manslaughter, the Supreme Court of Victoria. The Children's Court handles matters involving accused persons under 18. Sam appears across all four courts.
Same-day response to all matters. Confidential consultation, no obligation.
Same-day response to all matters
samuel@russolaw.com.au
