QLD Caught Shoplifting - Will I Need Legal Aid?

[Lol22lol]

Hi there,

I'm a 19-year-old uni student who has been caught and arrested for shoplifting. 5 Pairs of Socks and 4 Notebooks.

I've been given a 5-year ban to the whole chain of stores in Australia, and a 1-year ban to the shopping centre for which I work in (different store from the one I shoplifted from). I will now have to quit my job, not just because of the ban, but because of embarrassment too.

I plan on pleading guilty as I know I've done the wrong thing, and the charges are a reflection of what I did. I'm so embarrassed and am filled with remorse. My curiosity got the better of me and I'm scared that because of this, my future career and study prospects will fly out the window.

I've never been to court before. My main concern is what I may be prosecuted with under Criminal Law, and if I have any chance of not getting the conviction recorded.

I'm also not sure if I should seek legal aid. I feel as if I could represent myself as there's not much complication to the case, but like I mentioned, I'm not familiar with going to court so I might not be the best to judge whether I need a lawyer or not.

 

[Rod]

Do not quit work yet unless you either don't need the money or have found another job. Not sure that the shopping centre can ban you if you work at another store. Needs someone with better knowledge to answer this part of your issue.

If you intend to plead guilty, which sounds like a sensible thing to do as you've already admitted to the offence, then just turn up to court, dress well, plead guilty, show remorse, respect to the court etc and ask for leniency. For simple cases like this you can ask to see legal aid on the day.

 

[JS79]

In court you can look at asking the magistrate for a spent conviction - ask the duty lawyer or your legal aid lawyer to ask for this. That way it will not be disclosed to any employer.