Danielle Hanson – Criminal Lawyer – Senior Associate

Danielle Hanson is one of our senior criminal lawyers and holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice from Griffith University.  Although she is based at our Southport office, Danielle regularly travels to Brisbane and regional areas across Queensland to represent her clients.

Danielle is thorough and frank in her dealings with clients, ensuring that they understand every nuance of their matter, how it will proceed through the criminal justice system, and all the options available to them. Danielle understands the importance of providing strong and diligent legal representation delivered with an empathetic and supportive approach to help clients through what is, for most, a highly stressful experience.

Danielle represents clients charged with a wide variety of criminal offences including violence, sexual offending, traffic matters, and white-collar crimes. She is committed to restorative justice and has successfully assisted many clients to resolve their charges via mediation.

Since the introduction of the Specialist Domestic Violence Court in Southport, Danielle has developed a special expertise in domestic violence matters. She regularly represents clients who have been served with an Application for a Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVO) or who have been charged with a domestic violence related offence (such as assault, wilful damage, or strangulation/choking). Danielle appreciates the devastating effects a DVO can have on a client’s family law matters, weapons licence or career. She regularly collaborates with her clients’ family and/or employment lawyers to ensure their interests are looked after in all areas.

Danielle also has a keen interest in working with clients suffering from mental illnesses. She regularly appears before the Mental Health Court and the Magistrates Court for clients who may have a mental health defence open to them. Her expertise in this area allows her to assist her clients in mapping out a holistic plan and approach to their matter which will help reduce the worry and stress of criminal proceedings.

The criminal law team at Potts Lawyers collaborate closely on a day to day basis. Danielle liaises with our other lawyers, criminal and civil, to achieve the best possible outcomes for her clients. She also has recourse to a number of experienced barristers in building a strong and dependable defence team.

Danielle remains a volunteer lawyer with the Griffith University Innocence Project, which first sparked her interest in this area of practice during her student days. She finds it very rewarding that she can now apply her practical experience as a senior criminal lawyer for the benefit of the project and its clients.