Mr Hatzistergos, in town yesterday to announce more funding for domestic violence workers, said the Government supported the Hunter Development Corporation's plans for courthouses, offices and other legal agencies to be moved from their Church and Bolton street locations to near the Civic theatre.

He did not say when the new precinct would be built.

Newcastle Law Society president Catherine Henry said the area around Newcastle police station would look like a Mad Max set if the legal precinct was relocated.

She said surrounding businesses would suffer as well as inconveniencing legal professionals, the police and other agencies.

Ms Henry rejected the Attorney-General's claim the heritage listed courthouse, would be too hard to redevelop.

"Expanding the state courts on the current site is perfectly feasible," she said.

"We've put forward the way this can be done.

"Clearly there is not enough space at the [Civic precinct].

"Out of all the options, the Civic is the last case scenario.

"We'd prefer the West End over the Civic."

Mr Hatzistergos said he hoped to speak with the Federal Attorney-General soon about the new precinct.

Plans for the precinct include a law library and law school.

"We are excited about the prospect of having an integrated facility, but we've got to get it right," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"I am familiar that the law society would prefer us to [refurbish] this [Church Street] site, but we've got to have an integrated facility."

Ms Henry said the Government's plan would fragment rather than integrate legal services and agencies.

Yesterday's funding will allow the Hunter Women's Domestic Violence Court Service to recruit four more workers to support women through the court process.