An accusation of assault has severe and long-lasting effects on personal as well as professional life. Consulting criminal defence lawyers during the early stages is very crucial and requires professional legal advice. They will not only help in guarding your legal rights but also in protecting your reputation, livelihood, and professional growth.
In Australia, even a single charge for assault of any nature and degree can have an impact on your work prospects, from job security to professional development in the long run.
An assault charge can trigger immediate job-related complications:
Many employers across the country require a police check and provide a National Police Certificate. A pending charge or conviction for assault may raise serious questions regarding your reliability, professionalism, or ability to contribute safely within a workplace environment.
A clean criminal record is one of the prerequisites set out for professional licensing in many industries, including health, child care, aged care, and security, just to name a few. Upon conviction for assault, suspension or cancellation of such a license may be imposed, effectively ending your career in those areas.
The consequences of an assault charge do not stop once the court matters have been concluded. A conviction can limit your professional mobility and access to many different types of job markets:
A conviction can stay in your criminal record for quite a period of time, usually ten years or more, depending on the offence and jurisdiction. Even if it is “spent” after that period of time, full access to your history might still be granted in some areas, like law enforcement or teaching.
Any position working with children, the elderly, or vulnerable communities often entails stringent screenings through Working With Children Checks or National Disability Insurance Scheme worker screenings. A person convicted of assault could automatically be prevented from those types of positions.
Assault convictions can prevent a person from acquiring managerial positions or other leadership situations where trust and responsibility are involved. Even in those instances where employment is secured, career growth may be hampered by internal risk assessments or policies relating to criminal conduct.
If charges of assault are filed against you and your future career is in jeopardy, here are some steps you might want to take to begin minimising the damage.
Be upfront about your job situation, licences, and career goals to allow your sexual assault lawyer to advise you concerning both legal and practical results.
In some circumstances, after the period of good behaviour has expired, a conviction may be “spent”, which is no longer required to be disclosed on most employment applications. Serious or sexual offences may not qualify.
Talk to an employment specialist or career counsellor who deals with clients with criminal records. They can help you narrow down the field to appropriate industries and also help you positively present your case to employers.
Continue demonstrating integrity, punctuality, and responsibility within the current workplace or during community activities. Positive references combined with one’s proven rehabilitation can go a long way in affecting employer perceptions.
It most definitely makes all the difference if the right legal professionals are involved because of their understanding of how criminal charges interact with employment law. These professionals will be able to assist you, not only in court but also in safeguarding your professional reputation.
It is advantageous to hire assault lawyers early in the process because they can advise you on the assessment of your case, negotiate with the prosecution, and also advise on how to limit the consequences impacting employability. They may also be able to advise appropriately on the best way to handle disclosure, communication with employers, and protection of rights throughout.
An assault charge in Australia substantially affects your employment prospects now and even in the future. It can lead to the loss of your position, make it impossible to obtain a professional license, and damage your reputation for a long time. However, you are able to take steps to reduce the potential of the above from affecting you, including speaking to a professional, such as an assault lawyer Perth, or a criminal defence lawyer, as soon as possible.
The decision to have an assault lawyer on board early may be the most critical thing you do to protect your legal rights and your job and professional future for a long time!