ACCREDITED CRIMINAL LAW SPECIALIST

This is the highest level of accreditation any criminal lawyer can obtain. When you work with Mate Lawyers you know you’re working with some of the most qualified criminal lawyers in Sydney who have dedicated their lives to Criminal Law.

Principal Lawyer – Mickaela Mate

Excellent
Mate Lawyers5.0
Based on 132 reviews
Tania Argall
1 week ago
I highly recommend Mickaela and her firm. Her attention to detail, knowledge, expertise in the industry is beyond amazing. Not to mention the level of professionalism and personal care towards her clients. It’s comforting to find someone whose heart is in the right place. Her services will not disappoint.
Osca T
4 months ago
Mickeala is my mate! In law a real mate certainly comes in handy especially if you are an inmate. She is articulate sharp n fast and knows the go! If you need a strong reliable mate Mickeala mate is, Quality assurance & your mate! 😁👍🏻
Brendyn Fulton
4 months ago
Mickaela was fantastic with my case. We got the outcome I was after. I highly recommend using Mate Lawyers.
Bernard Lariviere
5 months ago
If you need a brilliant, no-nonsense advocate who understands the tactical crossover between criminal and family law, I cannot recommend Mickaela highly enough. Exceptional!
Jordan Anderson
5 months ago
I had an excellent experience working with Mickaela at mate lawyers, she is professional, attentive and knowledgeable. She put me at ease throughout the entire matter, and made me feel supported. I would highly recommend mate lawyers to anyone seeking legal support.
Caroline D
6 months ago
Had absolute trust in them - reached out to them last minute and yet they came through which was really appreciated.
harpreet bhullar
7 months ago
I highly recommend Mickaela from Mate Lawyers! From the very first consultation, she was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely attentive to my concerns. She took the time to explain every step of the process clearly and made sure I felt confident and informed throughout my case. Mickaela responded promptly to my questions, kept me updated regularly, and always made me feel like a priority. Her dedication and strong advocacy truly made a difference in achieving a positive outcome. If you’re looking for a lawyer who is not only highly skilled but also truly cares about her clients, Mickaela is the one you want on your side. I’m so grateful for her support and expertise! Sumreen Gill
E Fedele
7 months ago
Mickaela is a power house. You will not find a better criminal lawyer in Sydney. One conversation with Mickaela and you know she is at the top of her game. Not only was the case a success, Mickaela smashed it out of the park. I highly recommend any one seeking a criminal lawyer to put Mate Lawyers at the top of their list.
Matt Braithwaite-Young
8 months ago
I referred Mate Lawyers to a friend to help him solve a trivial matter that should never turned into a charge in the first place. The matter was resolved in court with skill by Mickaela and her team - a good outcome. If you're reading this, you are in the right place and I'd definitely recommend giving them a call.
Dean Cutajar
8 months ago
I had an excellent experience working with Mickaela on my traffic matter. From the very beginning, she was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly responsive. She took the time to explain the process clearly, answered all of my questions, and made sure I felt confident every step of the way. Prior to meeting, I had been told this matter would stretch out over multiple court hearings which sounded very daunting and frustrating. Thanks to Mickaela, my case was handled smoothly and in one court hearing which shows the effort and preparation that was taken. We were also extremely happy with the result. I highly recommend Michaela to anyone in need of reliable and effective legal representation for a traffic matter.
Ramandeep Gill
9 months ago
Michaela Mate was exceptional in the way she handled my case. Having never experienced the legal process in this way before, Michaela’s approach was both highly professional and genuinely personal, which was incredibly reassuring during a very difficult time. Her confidence, energy, and genuine care were evident throughout the entire process. She was consistently supportive, present, and worked with remarkable precision and dedication. I always felt informed, respected, and in capable hands. I highly recommend Michaela and her team at Mate Lawyers. She is extremely helpful, approachable, and without a doubt the best lawyer I have ever dealt with. I would confidently recommend her to anyone seeking legal support in the future.
Kevin Hardy
9 months ago
It was great having Mickaela represent me. Very clear on the process and quick to respond all my questions.
Scalso Bathrooms and Kitchens
10 months ago
We recently worked with Mickaela and her team at Mate Lawyers on a complex business matter, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From our first meeting, Mickaela made everything clear and approachable, no confusing legal jargon, just straight answers and genuine care. What really stood out was how responsive and supportive she was, even taking time after hours to explain the finer details to our team. It’s rare to find a lawyer who balances professionalism with such warmth and empathy. We wouldn’t hesitate to turn to Mate Lawyers again in the future.
Tim Lauschet
12 months ago
Mate Lawyers are outstanding. They’re professional, approachable, and truly put their clients first. Their communication is clear and consistent, and I felt supported every step of the way. Highly recommend them to anyone needing quality legal representation.
caley richardson
12 months ago
MICKAELA MATE has been a shining light in one of the most stressful times. Her knowledge and ability in her area of expertise is fantastic. I look forward to continuing to work with Michaela on any future matters.
Ismail Karimi
1 year ago
I am extremely grateful for the outstanding support and guidance I received from my lawyer throughout my case. From the very first day until today’s hearing, they treated me with great respect, patience, and professionalism. Even though my English is not perfect, when I communicated with Michaela, she was always understanding, patient, and never made me feel uncomfortable or judged. She made a very complex legal process much easier for me to understand and navigate. Thanks to her efforts, today’s hearing went very smoothly, and I felt fully supported at every step. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking for a dedicated, professional, and compassionate lawyer.
Darren Ashley
1 year ago
Mickaela is a consumate professional, kind and considerate. I would have no hesitation in recommending her services. She is hard working, and always delivers. It is a pleasure to work with her in my experience.
Isaac Mar
1 year ago
Had an experience where Mickaela was able to get me the best possible result! She was very warm and considerate of me as a client and took a lot of time out to make sure we got the best result. Can’t really put it in to words how much I appreciated her help throughout the tough legal process and how her work and support made all the difference. Not only a professional but very personable too.
LT
1 year ago
Very professional and empathetic.
R Mar
1 year ago
Mickaela Mate was exceptional in her delivery of our case and achieved an outstanding result. Having never connected with the law in this manner before, Mickaela was both professional and personal in her approach which was so reassuring during such a difficult time in our lives. Her confidence, energy and genuine care were present throughout the entire process. Mickaela was supportive, present and worked with such precision. I highly recommend Mickaela and her team at Mate lawyers.
Kk M
1 year ago
I cannot recommend Mate Lawyers highly enough.100/10 experience. From the very beginning, Mickaela and her team brought an exceptional level of expertise and professionalism to my case while still making the experience feel incredibly personal. I was fully informed throughout the process and it was impressive how quickly the matter was resolved, with an outcome that far exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for legal representation that combines skill, dedication, and genuine care, you cannot go past Mate Lawyers. Thank you Mickaela
christopherarezo18
1 year ago
I was in need of a criminal defence lawyer and came across Mickaela mate. I am glad i contacted her as she made the whole process easy from start to finish. As it was my first offence i was confused, nervous and anxious and she made me feel at ease. She paid very close attention to detail and i believe she helped build the strongest case possible. Very professional and has your best interest at heart. Would highly reccomend.
Tien Truong
1 year ago
Mickaela was very attentive and helped me consider all options, she guided me in a step to step process to achieve the ideal result in my court proceedings. Highly recommended. Thanks Mickaela.
Monique Hennessy
1 year ago
Mickaela and her team are reliable, knowledgeable and professional. As a fellow practitioner, we appreciate her client centric approach and refer clients to her confident in the knowledge they are in safe hands.
Emma
1 year ago
Michaela and her team are one of our most trusted referral partners. When we need reliable, results-driven representation for our clients in Sydney, we send them to her. She knows the law, delivers outcomes, and we can refer to her with confidence.

Need Criminal Law Advice?

Receive a free phone consultation directly from Mickaela Mate

HOW WE CAN HELP

Specialists in Criminal Law

Mate Lawyers is a boutique firm of criminal defence lawyers. It’s all we do and we’ve been fighting for our clients since 2015. That’s why you can rely on us if you are facing charges or in trouble with the law.

You’ll work directly with our principal, Mickaela Mate to ensure you have one consistent person who thoroughly understands your case and will work hard to obtain the best outcomes for your particular situation.

You’ll find Mickaela is straight-talking, approachable, compassionate and empathetic. But when she is representing you in court, she is a fierce advocate for you. Here are the areas of law we can help you with:

Assault Charges

Traffic Charges

Domestic Violence & AVOs

Sexual Assault Charges

Drug Charges

Theft & Robbery Charges

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Don’t do an interview with the police! Instead tell them you want to speak with your lawyer and then call Mickaela Mate from Mate Lawyers on 0483 980 372. You can even make this call from the police station.

The police will prepare important paperwork and you will receive a copy. You need to give this copy to Mickaela as soon as possible.

If you have been granted bail, you also need to check that you understand your bail conditions to ensure you don’t accidentally breach any of them. If you aren’t sure, we can help you.

Remember to record your court date in your calendar and speak to us about what will happen and what you need to do.

The short answer is no. As your lawyer, one of Mickaela Mate’s jobs is to speak on your behalf in Court. She is also there to advocate for you and suggest how the law should be applied to your specific situation.

The judge or magistrate may ask you questions. If that occurs, you simply need to answer politely and honestly. When responding, you need to call them “Your Honour”.

Depending on your case, you may need to give evidence but this is unusual and we try to avoid it, if possible. We will always advise you on whether it is necessary and this decision is based on the evidence presented during the hearing.

Often, your likelihood of going to jail will depend on your charges. For example, charges relating to murder and manslaughter will include jail time as bail is usually denied. In these situations, the question should actually be about how long you can expect to be in jail. That’s why it is so important to have an experienced defence lawyer on your side – like the team from Mate Lawyers.

For other categories of crime, your chances of going to jail will vary with your situation. Importantly, imprisonment is always considered a last resort for the Courts and we will tell you if we think it’s a possibility in your case.

That’s ok. It’s common and part of our role is to determine what charges have been laid against you. That’s why it’s so important to contact Mate Lawyers on 0483 980 372 as soon as possible.

We understand the law and will explain the charges to you. We’ll also explain the evidence collected against you and get your side of the story. Often, there’s much more to the story than what the police are saying. Once we have that information, we’ll explain your defence options and any factors we believe will reduce your moral culpability. In turn, this could lead to a reduced sentence or possibly a finding of not guilty.

First and foremost, contact Mate Lawyers on 0483 980 372 so we can prepare your case and your defence strategy to ensure you obtain the best possible results.

There are multiple ways we can do this for you.

  1. We can ask for the charges against you to be withdrawn and provide information on why the prosecution can’t prove those charges. If this is successful, the charges will be withdrawn and the case dismissed without any finding of guilt.
  2. We can evaluate the evidence and prepare a defence. In these situations, your matter will need to go to a hearing or trial where the prosecution will present their evidence. After that, we have the opportunity to argue there is no case and that the prosecution has failed to provide sufficient evidence to the standards required by the Courts.
  3. We can follow the process described in the previous point and take it further by asking you to give evidence to establish your defence. It means you will probably be required to speak in court, although there is also the possibility that a witness could provide evidence to support you.

Whichever approach is adopted, Mate Lawyers will ensure we get the best result for you.

This will vary depending on your charges. For example, you may only need to appear once in matters such as drink driving, negligent driving or if you are pleading guilty to charges such as possessing a prohibited drug.

However, some charges require many court appearances – especially if you are on bail. For example, in a sexual assault matter that goes to trial because you are not guilty, you can expect to appear before the Courts approximately 10-15 times before you even get to trial. The reason for this is due to specific procedures that some matters need to follow, and the Court wants to see that you are adhering to your bail conditions while in the community. The only way they can do this is for you to appear in person.

At Mate Lawyers, we understand appearing in Court is highly stressful for our clients. So we always try to minimise your court appearances wherever possible.

Need Criminal Law Advice?

Receive a free phone consultation directly from Mickaela Mate

TESTIMONIALS

What others are saying

“Deserves 6 out of 5 stars”

Recently used the services of Mickaela Mate in a criminal matter, and the degree of her professionalism, expertise, and understanding were phenomenal.

The peace of mind I gained from the first consultation, and the confidence that I had in her advice throughout the process made the difference in what ordinarily be a highly successful time, right through to NOT GUILTY OUTCOME.

Would not hesitate to use Mickaela Mate services further, nor to recommend her to anyone requiring legal services. Deserves 6 out of 5 stars.

– Kim Campbell

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Very responsive to questions”

I found Mate Lawyers through a Google search.

I found them to be well qualified in terms of their advice, and very responsive to questions even on weekends when phone calls were always answered.

Dealing with any law matter is stressful, but Mate Lawyers were very calming and focused on the best outcome for myself.

That is exactly what we achieved in the end. If you have a legal matter pending I would have zero hesitation recommending engagement with Mate Lawyers.

– Dave Stewart

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Simply the Best!”

Mickaela Mate is an incredible professional who went above and beyond to save my driving licence.

My case was extremely complex, with multiple fines coming from various sources, but Mickaela handled everything with exceptional professionalism and expertise.

Her attention to detail and commitment to resolving my matter were truly impressive. I would highly recommend Mickaela’s services to anyone in need of top-notch legal assistance.

She’s simply the best!

– Elena Heart

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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