7mChoosing legal help
Lawyer, solicitor and barrister: what is the difference?
Understand how lawyers, solicitors and barristers work in Australia, who usually manages a matter and when another advocate may be involved.
Legal insights
Australian Legal Articles
Independent, source-led explainers for common legal decisions, urgent deadlines and the practical work of choosing legal help.
LEGAL DECISION LIBRARY
Choosing and Paying for Legal Help
Compare professional roles, credentials, service formats and fee arrangements before engaging a firm.
8mLegal fees
Fixed-fee vs hourly lawyer costs in Australia
Compare fixed-fee, hourly, staged and conditional legal pricing, including scope limits, disbursements and questions to ask before engaging a firm.
8mLegal fees
No win, no fee lawyers: questions to ask
Understand what no win, no fee may cover, which costs can remain payable and the questions to ask before signing a conditional costs agreement.
7mComparing lawyers
Local lawyer or specialist lawyer: how to choose
Compare location, relevant experience, court familiarity, remote service, availability and cost when choosing between a local and specialist lawyer.
6mMeeting format
Online vs in-person lawyer consultations
Compare video, phone and in-person lawyer meetings, including privacy, documents, identity checks, accessibility and when location matters.
6mProfessional credentials
Specialist accreditation for Australian lawyers explained
Understand specialist accreditation, how it differs from marketing descriptions and what else to check when comparing Australian lawyers.
7mDecision support
When to get a second legal opinion
Learn when a second legal opinion may help, how to prepare a focused brief and how to compare advice without disrupting urgent work or deadlines.
LEGAL DECISION LIBRARY
Family, Property and Estate Decisions
Start with the practical decisions, records and time-sensitive questions that often arise during major life changes.
9mFamily law
Separation in Australia: practical first steps
Use a practical first-week checklist after separation, covering safety, children, housing, money, records and the legal questions to raise early.
8mProperty decisions
Conveyancer vs property lawyer: how to choose
Compare conveyancers and property lawyers in Australia by legal scope, transaction complexity, dispute risk, state rules and quoted services.
8mWills and estates
Estate dispute first steps in Australia
Prepare for an estate dispute by preserving the will and records, identifying the estate status, mapping interested people and checking local time limits.
LEGAL DECISION LIBRARY
Work and Business Decisions
Understand urgent employment dates and the commercial terms that deserve attention before a business signs.
8mEmployment law
Unfair dismissal: the 21-day deadline explained
Understand the Fair Work Commission’s 21-day unfair dismissal deadline, what to preserve and why different dismissal claims must be compared early.
9mBusiness law
Business contract checklist before signing
Review a business contract before signing by checking parties, deliverables, price, risk, data, exit rights, dispute steps and signing authority.
FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION
Prepare Before You Contact a Law Firm
Use a short timeline, a document index and a written list of questions to make the first consultation more focused.