- Melbourne law firm Gallant Law launches 7-day emergency SMS service for after-hours access to criminal defence lawyers
- Service addresses rising Victorian crime rates and research showing only 7-9% of suspects exercise their right to silence during police interviews
- Australian studies reveal false confessions appear in 17% of known wrongful conviction cases
- Firm specialises in critical cases including sexual offences, manslaughter, murder, driving fatalities and WorkSafe investigations
- Service accessible to both suspects and their family members/colleagues, available via SMS to 0403 613 515
Gallant Law, a Melbourne criminal defence firm led by LIV Accredited Criminal Law Specialist Lauren Cassimatis, has introduced a 7-day emergency SMS line giving individuals direct access to a criminal defence lawyer outside business hours. The move comes as Victoria recorded its highest crime rate in a decade, with more people being interviewed by police than at any point in recent history. What a person says in that first interview can become the foundation of the prosecution's case against them.
Australian research shows that only 4% of suspects exercised their right to silence during police interviews in NSW, with Victoria's DPP putting the figure at between 7 and 9% locally, meaning the majority speak without understanding the consequences. RMIT University and the University of Sydney found that false confessions featured in 17% of known Australian wrongful conviction cases. Gallant Law's SMS line exists to intervene before that moment, giving individuals a direct line to a criminal defence lawyer before a single question is answered.
The firm specialises in matters where early advice is most critical, including sexual offence accusations, manslaughter and murder, driving fatalities, and WorkSafe investigations. In each, reputational damage begins the moment police make contact, long before any charge is laid. Early legal advice shapes not just what evidence is admissible, but how a client's position is framed from the outset.
In practice, it is often a spouse, parent, or colleague who makes the first call, not the person under investigation. The SMS line is built for that moment too.
"By the time most clients call us, they've already spoken to police”, said Cassimatis, named one of Melbourne's Best Criminal Lawyers for 2025. "That conversation is already part of their case. The call that protects someone's future needs to happen before the interview, not after."
For urgent criminal law matters requiring immediate legal advice, individuals and families can contact Gallant Law’s 24/7 emergency SMS line on 0403 613 515.
For immediate legal advice, visit https://gallantlaw.com.au/
About us:
Founded in 2019, Gallant Law is a specialist criminal defence firm backed by over 20 years of legal experience. Operating nationally, the practice focuses on highly complex cases, including serious indictable offences, such as murder, driving fatalities and WorkSafe investigations. Its boutique structure enables a strategic focused approach, supported by a group of senior lawyers and forensic experts.
Led by Principal Lawyer and Director Lauren Cassimatis, Gallant Law’s success is driven by Cassimatis’ expertise in complex criminal defence cases, with her work earning recognition as a finalist for Thought Leader of the Year at the Women in Law Awards. Together, this reflects a practice grounded in agility and control, operating at the highest level of criminal defence.
Contact details:
Peter Cayetuna
Sr Seo Specialist
Gallant Law
03 9070 9885
0403 613 515 (Emergency)
[email protected]
https://gallantlaw.com.au/
