About Us
Over two decades of experience defending serious criminal allegations of all types.
Welcome to Wallace O'Hagan Lawyers
Wallace O’Hagan Lawyers specialises in criminal defence and associated proceedings. We have been nominated as a Doyle’s Guide Recommended Queensland Criminal Law Firm for eight consecutive years since the firm’s inception in 2015. Our lawyers have been repeatedly recognised as some of the finest criminal defence and traffic lawyers in Queensland.
We are passionate about helping people and protecting the rights of individuals – whether that is in the face of being charged with an offence, domestic violence applications or other proceedings which infringe on people’s liberty. We are a Legal Aid Queensland preferred supplier for criminal proceedings and are in a position to assist with those types of matters on that basis.
No matter the complexity, Wallace O’Hagan Lawyers is dedicated to getting the best possible outcome for all of our clients.
Meet the Team
Your personalised service against serious allegations
Partner
Emily O’Hagan
Emily graduated with Honours in a Bachelors of Laws and Psychology from Griffith University with elective study in Criminal Law and Forensic Mental Health at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. She undertook a clerkship with Hopgood Ganim Lawyers in Litigation and Family Law and was admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in 2010.
Following her admission, Emily has worked exclusively in criminal law. She worked at a busy criminal law practice for 5 years prior to becoming a founding partner of Wallace O’Hagan Lawyers in 2015. Emily has a wealth of experience successfully representing clients at all levels of the criminal justice system ranging from traffic offences before the Magistrates Court through to murder.
She has extensive trial experience as an advocate in her own right, and also instructing Counsel to successfully defend serious and complex matters before the District and Supreme Court. She has been involved in some of Queensland’s most high profile criminal proceedings including people smuggling matters and proceedings involving the vicious lawless association legislation.
Emily is passionate about protecting the rights of her clients and works tirelessly to safeguard their interests. Her experience also extends to representing medical professionals and employees of the Queensland Police Service in internal disciplinary proceedings. This extends to defending clients from job suspension and loss of remuneration.
Emily understands the significant impact of criminal allegations on individuals and their families. She is committed to ensuring that all of her clients achieve a fair and expeditious outcome.
Partner
Trent Playford
Trent graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Laws (Second Class Honours) in 2018. He was admitted as a Legal Practitioner before the Supreme Court of Queensland in June 2019. Prior to his admission, he worked exclusively in criminal law as a Law Clerk for over 2 years in busy practices which specialise in this area.
He has quickly made a name for himself as a criminal lawyer in Queensland. This is represented by his numerous nominations as a Doyle’s Guide Rising Star in Criminal Law (Queensland) and his promotion to the position of Partner at Wallace O’Hagan Lawyers within the first 5 years of his admission as a lawyer.
He regularly appears across the State in the Magistrates Court, District Court, Supreme Court as a Solicitor Advocate and instructs Counsel in the Queensland Court of Appeal. He is a gifted advocate who has successfully represented clients in bail applications, summary trials, sentences, appeals, committal hearings and jury trials. He has been involved in numerous high profile homicide cases including securing his clients bail on those matters.
Trent is also experienced in traffic matters, domestic violence applications and has successfully argued for his clients to be granted parole in the face of significant terms of imprisonment. He regularly appears in the Crime & Corrupt Commission and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission representing people summonsed in the investigation of serious organised crime.
He takes pride in being able to be reached at all times and having effective communications with his clients. Trent understands the importance of being able to contact a lawyer for urgent advice. He does not understate the importance of engaging a lawyer early to ensure that his clients rights are preserved.
Solicitor
Rosalie McFarland
Rosalie is a dedicated criminal defence lawyer who joined Wallace O’Hagan Lawyers in 2023. Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2022, Rosalie has worked exclusively in criminal law.
While completing her Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Queensland University of Technology, Rosalie gained extensive knowledge in criminal law working as a Paralegal at an Ipswich Criminal Law Firm. Known for her strong advocacy skills, she frequently appears in the Magistrates, District, and Supreme Courts, representing clients in a variety of legal proceedings including sentences, committal hearings and bail applications.
- Traffic offences (including work licence and special hardship applications)
- Property offences
- Drug-related offences
- Assault offences
Law Clerk
Darcie Hockings
Darcie graduated a Dual Bachelor of Law and Business from the Queensland University of Technology in 2023. She joined the team as a Law Clerk in 2023 after working with Women’s Legal Service for several years. She manages this with her commitments to the Army Reserves.
Darcie is an invaluable member of our team by assisting our lawyers with professional tasks to enable them to focus on the complex issues in their client’s cases. She regularly appears in the Magistrates, District and Supreme Court on mentions, and instructing Counsel during sentences and jury trials.