Court Mate helps you help yourself.

Pleading guilty to a traffic or minor criminal matter? You can represent yourself, and thousands of people do every week.

$295 to find out where you stand. If your matter is too serious to run yourself, we'll tell you, and the $295 comes off our fee to represent you.

Get started See how it works
Sage, your AI assistant
Tap to talk
About 5 minutes
Try it out
Clear guidance
Solicitor reviewed
What you'll need
  • Your court attendance notice
  • Your court date
  • Your mobile and email (we text you a code)
Every matter reviewed by a solicitor
2 business days to a straight answer
$1,485 all up
We say no if it's too serious
Matter guides

What's your matter about?

Pick one for a plain English guide from Daoud Legal.

SpeedingIncluding more than 30km/h and 45km/h over Licence suspensionAppeals and demerit point suspensions Red light cameraFines, demerit points and your options Mobile phone while drivingFive demerit points, and the P plate rules Negligent drivingWhere nobody was seriously injured Driving while suspended or unlicensedIncluding never licensed and fine default Shoplifting and larcenyStealing charges in the Local Court Drug possessionPossession of a prohibited drug Offensive languageSection 4A of the Summary Offences Act

Not listed, or not sure? Talk it through with us. What is a section 10?

Your options

Three ways to handle a guilty plea

On a minor matter, the biggest difference isn't who speaks in court. It's whether you walk in prepared.

On your ownCourt MateA solicitor appears for you
CostFree$1,485 all upAbout $3,300
Who prepares your materialYou, with no guidanceYou, guided step by stepYour solicitor
Who checks itNobodyA solicitorYour solicitor
Who speaks in courtYouYou, with a scriptYour solicitor

On your own

Cost
Free
Who prepares your material
You, with no guidance
Who checks it
Nobody
Who speaks in court
You

Court Mate

Cost
$1,485 all up
Who prepares your material
You, guided step by step
Who checks it
A solicitor
Who speaks in court
You, with a script

A solicitor appears for you

Cost
About $3,300
Who prepares your material
Your solicitor
Who checks it
Your solicitor
Who speaks in court
Your solicitor

Legal Aid has a means test, so most people don't qualify. The duty solicitor can help on the day, but can't prepare you weeks ahead.

How it works

Five steps. A solicitor reviews three of them.

You'll always know which step you're on and what comes next.

1

Check if you can

Answer a few questions and upload your court papers. A solicitor gives you a yes or no within 2 business days.

Solicitor reviews
2

Build your material

We guide you through your apology letter, references and personal circumstances, one question at a time.

AI-guided
3

Get it checked

A solicitor reviews what you've written and tells you what to change.

Solicitor reviews
4

Dress rehearsal

Film yourself presenting on our coaching platform. We review it and give you feedback.

Solicitor reviews
5

Before you go in

What to wear, where to sit, how to address the Judge, and what to say when your matter is called.

AI-guided
Robert Daoud, Principal Lawyer at Daoud Legal

Daoud Legal - Criminal Defence

Robert Daoud, Principal Lawyer
Criminal and traffic law exclusively, not a general practice
Every matter reviewed by one of our solicitors before it goes to court
Appearing in NSW Local, District and Supreme Courts
Robert Daoud, David Philippe and Heath Joukhader
Level 8, 265 Castlereagh Street, Sydney
The firm behind it

"We'd rather forgo the sale than watch someone get it wrong and end up in prison."

Most people who come to us have never been inside a courtroom. They've usually been up half the night on forums, more confused than when they started. That's why a person needs to look at your matter, not a generic AI form.

Every matter is reviewed by a solicitor at this firm, in consultation with me, the principal. If you can run it, we'll show you how. If you can't, we'll tell you why and offer to take your case, with what you've paid coming off our fee.

Robert Daoud, Principal Lawyer, Daoud Legal - Criminal Defence
Why it costs less

AI helps you prepare. A solicitor makes the calls.

AI on its own can get things wrong. A solicitor on their own costs thousands. Together, it can be done properly at this price.

What our lawyer trained AI does

The patient, step by step work.

  • Works out what applies to your charge
  • Asks you the right questions, so you never start with a blank page
  • Explains court in plain English, any time of day

It doesn't give legal advice or decide anything about your case.

What the firm does

The judgement calls software shouldn't make.

  • Decides honestly whether you should run this yourself
  • Reviews every document you write before it's filed
  • Says no when the risk is too high, even if you ask us not to

Nothing goes to court on AI alone.

Pricing

Three payments. No surprises. No hourly rate.

You only pay for the court bundle and the rehearsal once a solicitor has told you your matter is one you can run yourself.

Step 1

Suitability review

$295 inc GST

Paid up front.

  • Upload your court papers securely
  • A guided intake about your circumstances
  • A solicitor reviews your matter
  • A straight answer within 2 business days
  • Comes off our fee if we represent you instead
Get started
Only if suitable
Steps 2, 3 and 5

Court bundle

$695 inc GST

Your material, checked by a solicitor, ready for court.

  • A preparation pack built around your charge
  • Guided help with your apology and references
  • A solicitor reviews and marks up your documents
  • Your court-day bundle and script
  • Questions answered up to your court date
Get started
Step 4

Dress rehearsal

$495 inc GST

Practise before the day.

  • Film yourself presenting on our coaching platform
  • A solicitor reviews your presentation
  • Feedback on what to change before court
Get started

$1,485 all up, against thousands for a solicitor to appear for you.

Our honesty policy

We don't lose by telling you the truth

A paid review is only worth something if the answer is honest. So we took away every reason for it not to be.

If it isn't suitable

Your $295 comes off our fee to represent you.

If you insist anyway

We still say no. If a matter is too serious to run alone, we won't sell you the pack at any price.

If you change your mind

Tell us as early as you can. If we're able to act for you, everything you've paid comes off our fee.

Is this right for me?

Who it's for, and who it isn't

NSW Local Court guilty pleas where prison isn't realistically on the table. Not sure? That's what the review is for.

Usually suitable

  • Speeding, including over 30km/h and 45km/h
  • Licence suspension and demerit point appeals
  • Red light camera offences
  • Use of a mobile phone while driving
  • Negligent driving where nobody was injured
  • Driving while suspended or unlicensed, first offence
  • Drink driving
  • Minor larceny and shoplifting, first offence
  • Small-quantity drug possession, first offence

We'll refer you to a lawyer

  • Anything where full-time imprisonment is realistically in range
  • Any matter you're pleading not guilty to
  • Assault, domestic violence matters and AVOs
  • Dangerous, reckless or predatory driving, police pursuits and street racing
  • Driving while disqualified, subsequent offence
  • Drug supply, weapons, fraud and commercial quantities
  • Anything in the District Court or Supreme Court, and anyone with a significant criminal record
Questions

The things people actually ask

If yours isn't here, ask us before you pay anything.

Am I really allowed to represent myself?
Yes. Anyone can appear for themselves in the Local Court, and many people do. Court Mate is a division of Daoud Legal - Criminal Defence, a licensed law practice, giving limited scope help to prepare and present your case.
Should I tell the Judge I used this service?
Yes. If asked, say you prepared your material with help from a solicitor at Daoud Legal - Criminal Defence. Courts expect that to be disclosed, and we give you the exact words.
Isn't the duty solicitor free?
Sometimes, if one is available on the day. But they meet you that morning with dozens of other matters. Nobody has read your references or helped with your apology. Preparation has to happen weeks earlier.
Will I do better with a lawyer representing me?
On a serious matter, yes, which is why we won't take those. On a straightforward guilty plea, the gap between a prepared person and a represented one is narrower than most people assume.
Is a computer writing my submissions?
No. The AI guides you to write your own material, in your words. A solicitor reviews every matter, and nothing goes to court without that.
Can you guarantee an outcome?
No, and be wary of anyone who does. Sentencing is up to the Judge. What we do know is that Judges notice preparation.
How long does it take?
Two business days for the suitability review, then about a week of preparation once you've written your material. Don't leave it to the last minute.
What if I want a lawyer after all?
Tell us as early as you can. If we're able to take your matter on, your solicitor will already know your file, and everything you've paid comes off our fee.
Is my information private?
Yes. You're dealing with a law practice, so legal professional privilege and confidentiality apply. Your documents are encrypted and never used to train AI.

Your court date isn't going anywhere.

Find out in 2 business days if you can run your matter yourself.

Get started

Comes off our fee if we represent you instead.

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