The refusal of bail has immediate consequences — for family, for employment, and for the preparation of the defence itself. A defence conducted from custody is conducted at a disadvantage.
Bail is therefore not a preliminary matter; it is often the first substantive contest in the proceeding.
Collins Chambers conducts bail applications in the Magistrates’ Court, County Court, and Supreme Court of Victoria, including applications governed by the exceptional circumstances and compelling reason tests under the Bail Act 1977 (Vic).
Successful applications are built, not argued. The firm’s preparation includes the assembly of proper evidentiary material — accommodation, employment, sureties, treatment, and supervision — the anticipation and answering of the prosecution’s specific objections, and the framing of conditions that meet the court’s concerns before they are raised. Where an application has been refused, the firm advises on further applications, including applications to the Supreme Court, and on the new facts and circumstances the law requires.
Time matters in custody. The firm treats bail work as urgent as a matter of course and is able to move quickly from first contact to application.