Like every good relationship, client relationships are built on trust.

That trust is crucial in every industry but perhaps none more so than in criminal law, where clients come to lawyers during some of their most vulnerable moments. Criminal law clients are often asking for more than excellent legal advice; they trust lawyers to provide emotional support, discretion, and empathy, too.

“Choosing the right law firm can be a difficult task, which entails a level of risk,” explained Shaun Pascoe, Director of Victorian law firm Pascoe Criminal Law.

“Will their lawyer deliver a good outcome? Will it be expensive? Will they get value for money?”

Mr Pascoe’s firm was recently named Best Criminal Law Firm (less than $30m revenue) in the Client Choice Awards 2022. It’s an achievement Mr Pascoe feels will help reinforce the high levels of trust the firm has established with clients and the community.

“Although criminal law is but one segment of the legal services market, our firm competes with hundreds of firms across Victoria,” he said.

“Recognition of providing superior client service in my view engenders trust. It can provide a point of difference and enables a potential client to feel more comfortable with their choice of lawyer.”

Pascoe Criminal Law is a Melbourne-based criminal law firm servicing all courts and jurisdictions in Victoria. The firm offers free initial case assessments and fixed-fee representation in court – both products that appear to have added to the firm’s success in the eyes of clients. Client Choice Awards are, after all, not chosen by judging panels and industry experts but are decided based on the feedback of clients submitted to beaton.

Awards are handed out in categories: accounting and consulting services, built and natural environment consulting, law and related services, and specialist IP and related services. In 2022, more than 15,000 pieces of client feedback were submitted to judge winners between more than 250 professional services firms from across Australia and New Zealand that entered.

Mr Pascoe said his team was “delighted to be a winner” among so many firms.

“We were honoured to be amongst such high calibre firms … Being awarded Best Criminal Law Firm (less than $30 million) provides both validation of what we have been doing, and encouragement to keep doing it.  Providing high-quality service is what our business prides itself on,” he said.

Pascoe Criminal Law was named 2022 Best Criminal Law Firm (<$30m revenue) in the 2022 Client Choice Awards. This award is presented in partnership with LEAP Legal Software.

Firmchecker is the Research Partner for this category.

The Client Choice Awards rewards firms for excellent client service, technical expertise, innovation and client experience. It is the only multi-profession and fully client-judged awards anywhere in the world. The Principal Partner of the Awards is NAB.

Enter your firm for the 2023 Awards here.