Criminal & Civil Defence Lawyer

  • • Driving Offences, including Drink Driving, Drug Driving, Driving Whilst Disqualified, Driving Whilst Suspended

    • Family Violence Offences

    • Drug Offences, including Possession and/or Trafficking inDdrugs

    • Dishonesty Charges; Fraud, Robbery, Burglary, Stealing

    • Common Assault/Code Assault

    • Sexual Offences; Rape, Indecent assault

    • Possession of Child Exploitation Material

    • Damage to Property/Arson

    • Magistrates Court Hearings

    • Supreme Court Trials

    • Pleas of Guilty

    • Youth Justice/Children's Court

    • Bail Applications

    • Restricted Licence Applications

  • • Restraint orders

    • Family Violence orders

About Fran

Clients and colleagues alike regard Fran as one of the most well-respected and hardworking criminal defence lawyers in Tasmania. Fran graduated from the University of Tasmania in 2004 and was admitted to legal practice in 2005. She commenced her career as an Associate in the Supreme Court of Tasmania before working in private practice and government roles in Launceston. Specialising in criminal law, Fran has almost 20 years’ experience representing clients on charges including murder, sexual offences, drug trafficking, family violence, and assault.

Fran is a fierce advocate for her clients. She is a daily fixture of the Magistrates Court of Tasmania and the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Launceston, where she can be found conducting complex hearings and criminal trials. Fran has exceptional practical experience, including cross-examination of hundreds of police, and civilian witnesses. She works tirelessly to achieve successful outcomes for her clients and her hard work pays off - Fran has achieved countless “Not Guilty” verdicts.  

Fran is often involved in high profile cases, and she is uniquely placed to provide advice to clients about their court matters in Launceston. While the court process can be daunting, Fran prides herself on her practical and approachable manner. Fran communicates clearly and directly with clients, helping them understand their rights and informing their decisions.

When matters do resolve by guilty plea, Fran is a confident and skilled sentencing advocate. She has a wealth of experience in making sentencing submissions about her clients and the relevant law to achieve the best possible outcome.

Fran's expertise and diligent efforts have been and continue to be acknowledged. In 2022, Fran won the Tasmania Legal Aid Award recognising her role in delivering services to vulnerable and marginalised Tasmanians. Fran is a current member of the National Criminal Law Committee, and a past Member of the Tasmanian Criminal Law Committee.

Fran offers fixed-fee representation and she can advise you about your eligibility for Legal Aid assistance.

FAQs

The police want to speak to me. What do I do?

It can be very daunting when a police officer approaches you to speak about an allegation. They are likely to approach you without any warning. The police will always give you an opportunity to speak to a lawyer or a family member before speaking to them in detail.

Take this chance to call a lawyer. There can be times when speaking to the police is a very bad idea and others when it can really help your cause. During business hours, call our office or any lawyer and ask for advice about whether to speak to the police.

I have been charged with an offence. What do I do?

Once you have a court date it is important to contact a lawyer as soon as you can. Fran can obtain information from the police about the charges and start giving you advice about what happens next. Fran will arrange an appointment with you in person or by telephone to discuss your matter in detail and give you all the information you need before you appear in court.

Do I need a lawyer and how much will this cost?

In most cases there are benefits to being legally represented in court. The benefits can be as simple as having someone walk you through the court process so you know what to expect. However in a lot of cases, having an experienced lawyer to advise you about whether to plead guilty or not guilty or to speak on your behalf in court can make a significant difference to your outcome. Fran is happy to speak to you about how a lawyer might assist in your specific case.

You might be concerned about how much a lawyer will cost you. Fran will be upfront with you about your likely legal costs and in most cases can offer you fixed fee representation.

Can I get legal aid assistance?

Yes. If you are eligible for legal aid funding, Fran can make that application for you. Legal aid funding is available for people charged with criminal offences and those seeking assistance with restraint orders or family violence orders.

You might be required to pay a small, one-off contribution set by the Legal Aid Commission but the remainder of your legal expenses would be paid. Feel free to ask Fran about your eligibility for legal aid funding.