Michael Barsha — Principal Lawyer
Michael Barsha is the Principal Lawyer at Barsha Defence Lawyers, a specialist criminal defence and traffic law firm based in Parramatta and Norwest. He practises exclusively in criminal and traffic law. That means every case he takes on, every court appearance he makes, and every piece of legal advice he gives relates to defending people charged with criminal or traffic offences in New South Wales.
When you retain Barsha Defence Lawyers, you work directly with Michael from start to finish. He handles case preparation, client communication, and court appearances personally. You are not handed off to junior lawyers or paralegals between appearances.
Experience Across All Criminal Matters
Michael also handles AVO matters, defended hearings, guilty plea proceedings, and Section 14 mental health applications across the Local Court and District Court.
Matters in the Media
Michael has acted as the defence lawyer in a number of criminal matters that received media coverage. These cases reflect the range of serious charges he handles on a regular basis, from violent offences and firearms matters to fraud and sexual offences.
Court Appearances Across NSW
Michael appears daily at Parramatta Local Court and attends courts right across NSW. Having two offices in Western Sydney gives him quick access to courts in every direction. He is familiar with the magistrates, registrars, and prosecutors at each of these courts, and that familiarity matters when it comes to effective advocacy and practical advice about what to expect on the day.
Courts where Michael regularly appears include:
A complete list of every court we cover, grouped by region with driving distances from our offices, is available on the Courts We Attend hub page.
Credentials & Appointments
How Michael Approaches Your Case
Michael's approach to criminal defence starts with an honest assessment. He reviews the police facts, the charge sheet, any CCTV or body-worn camera footage, and the brief of evidence. He tells you where the prosecution case is strong, where it is weak, and what options are open to you. That honest starting point is what allows the right strategy to be built.
Where the evidence supports it, Michael will fight the charge at a defended hearing. He looks for procedural errors, inconsistencies in witness accounts, and weaknesses in the prosecution case that can be tested through cross-examination. Where a guilty plea is the better option, he builds the strongest possible case for sentencing. That means gathering character references, medical and psychological reports, evidence of rehabilitation, and completion certificates from programs like the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program.
Michael also negotiates directly with police prosecutors. In many cases, he secures the withdrawal of charges, the downgrading of charges to less serious offences, or agreed facts that remove the most damaging allegations from the prosecution case. Negotiation is often the most effective tool available, and it requires knowing what prosecutors are prepared to accept at each court.
For clients in custody, Michael prepares and runs bail applications at the earliest opportunity. For clients whose offending is linked to a mental health condition, he prepares Section 14 applications under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 to divert the matter away from the ordinary sentencing process.
Community Involvement
Outside the courtroom, Michael volunteers his time as a lecturer at the Traffic Offenders Intervention Program. The program is run across NSW and is designed for people referred by the courts after being convicted of a traffic offence. Michael delivers sessions covering traffic law, the consequences of offending, and how the court process works. Completion of the program is often used in sentencing submissions to show a court that a client has taken steps toward rehabilitation.
Michael also contributes to legal discussion through the firm's blog, where he publishes articles covering recent changes to criminal law, sentencing outcomes, and practical guidance for people facing charges in NSW.
