Ten Melbourne firms for everyday legal matters, with what each one handles, where its offices are, and your rights on costs, bills and complaints in Victoria.
Google ratings checked 24 October 2026 · Updated 24 October 2026
Not published. Weekday appointments, with after hours appointments on request. The firm says it advises on the strengths and weaknesses of a civil matter at the outset.
Office
267 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood VIC 3134
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Aughtersons has served Melbourne's east since Bill Aughterson opened it in 1964, and it has worked from Maroondah Highway in Ringwood since 1993. Directors Santina Della-Rossa, Liam O'Brien and Kathy Adams lead a team of about 15 lawyers. It covers family law, wills and estates, conveyancing, business and leasing, civil disputes and criminal matters in the Magistrates Court. Three of its lawyers are accredited specialists, two in family law and one in wills and estates, according to the firm. It suits eastern suburbs families and small businesses. After hours appointments are available on request.
Founded in 1964
Also worth knowing
Handles Magistrates Court criminal matters and intervention orders as well as civil disputes.
Lawyers
Santina Della-Rossa, Director, Family Law, Accredited Specialist in Family Law according to the firm Accredited specialist
Liam O'Brien, Director, Commercial Litigation
Kathy Adams, Director, head of Commercial and Wills and Estates
Philippa Darlow, Senior Lawyer, Family Law, Accredited Specialist in Family Law according to the firm Accredited specialist
Renee Cellante, Senior Lawyer, Wills and Estates, Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates according to the firm Accredited specialist
Rae Abdul Rahim, Senior Lawyer, manages Property and Conveyancing
Denis Vukicevic, Senior Lawyer, Commercial and Property
Alexia Popovic, Lawyer, Criminal Law, Intervention Orders and Civil Litigation
Gordon Jacobs, Consultant, Property and Conveyancing
Not published. The firm invites you to contact the team to discuss your situation.
Office
Level 18, 461 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Hicks Oakley Chessell Williams is a Melbourne firm founded in 1961, with offices on Bourke Street in the CBD and in Mount Waverley. Michelle van Niekerk is CEO, and the firm is run by a group of directors and principal lawyers who each head a team. It covers the full spread of everyday work: wills and estates, conveyancing, family law, business advice and commercial disputes. Wills and estates director Lachlan Vallance is an LIV accredited specialist in wills and estates, according to the firm. It suits families and small business owners in the east who want one firm for most matters. Contact the firm about first meeting terms.
Founded in 1961
Also worth knowing
Wills and estates director Lachlan Vallance is an LIV accredited specialist in wills and estates, according to the firm.
Lawyers
The firm's people page lists at least 20 lawyers across several pages.
Michelle van Niekerk, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Matthew Hicks, Director and Principal Lawyer, Commercial Litigation and Insolvency
Lachlan Vallance, Director and Principal Lawyer, Wills and Estates
Sarah Lindsey, Director and Principal Lawyer, Property Law
Anne-Louise Pham, Principal Lawyer and Head of Family Law
Rachelle Eytan, Principal Lawyer and Head of Commercial Law
Deborah Kliger, Principal Lawyer, Wills and Estates
Bernard Mackey, Principal Lawyer, Property Law
Anton Biskup, Principal Lawyer, Commercial Litigation and Insolvency
Areas of solicitors law handled
Wills and estate planning
Deceased estates and probate
Estate and trust disputes
VCAT administration and guardianship
Residential and commercial conveyancing
Leasing and property disputes
Family law property and parenting
Separation and divorce
Business structuring and commercial agreements
Buying and selling a business
Commercial disputes and insolvency
Domestic building disputes
Office
Level 18, 461 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Other details
Other offices
Mount Waverley (Central 1, Level 2, Suite 17, 1 Ricketts Road), 03 9550 4600
Free first conference for most matters, no obligation. Fixed fees for wills, standard conveyancing and some family law documents, time based fees for contested matters, with written estimates before work starts.
Office
36 Dandenong Road West, Frankston VIC 3199
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Bayside Solicitors has run from Dandenong Road West in Frankston since 1998, when principals Ashley Tickner and Alysia Mein set it up. It is a true suburban general practice, with family law, criminal and traffic, conveyancing, wills and probate, and small business work under one roof. The firm says its lawyers appear at Frankston and Dandenong Magistrates' Courts every day, and that the lawyer who prepares a case can also argue it. The first conference is free for most matters, and fixed fees are offered for wills and standard conveyancing. It suits Frankston and Peninsula locals.
Founded in 1998
Also worth knowing
First conference is free for most matters, and fixed fees apply to wills and standard conveyancing.
Lawyers
Ashley Tickner, Director, founder and principal solicitor
Alysia Mein, Founder and principal solicitor, Commercial, Wills and Estates
Annabelle Brasher, Partner, Property and Family Law
Not published. The firm says the first meeting covers your situation, goals and next steps.
Office
13 John Street, Pakenham VIC 3810
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Duffy & Simon is a Pakenham firm on John Street, founded by Donald Duffy, who was admitted in 1974. The firm says it has around 50 years in practice. It is one of the larger firms in Melbourne's south east growth corridor, with seven principals, a team of family, estates, commercial and property lawyers, and a busy conveyancing team. Sandra Keysers leads family law and also takes traffic and intervention order matters. It suits Casey and Cardinia residents, plus Gippsland farmers and business owners planning succession. Ask about first meeting terms when you call.
Also worth knowing
Family law principal Sandra Keysers also handles traffic offences and intervention orders.
Lawyers
The team page also lists associates, lawyers and six conveyancers.
Donald Duffy, Principal and founder, Property, Wills and Estates, Trusts
Not published. Consultations by appointment, in person at either office, by phone or video, with home visits by arrangement. Urgent matters get a prompt first consultation, according to the firm.
Office
Level 1, 480 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Parke Lawyers works from Collins Street in the CBD and Maroondah Highway in Ringwood, led by managing director Jim Parke. The firm says it was founded in 1994 and traces its roots through earlier practices to 1893. It covers family law, wills, probate and estate disputes, conveyancing, business and employment advice for employers, debt recovery, and criminal and traffic matters such as drink driving. Meetings can be in person, by phone or by video, and home visits can be arranged. It suits families, executors and small business owners who want city and eastern suburbs access.
Founded in 1994
Also worth knowing
Offers meetings in person, by phone, by video, or at home by arrangement.
Lawyers
Directors, associates and consultants listed on the firm's team page.
Bookings online or by phone, with 24/7 phone assistance. Fee terms not published on the Melbourne page.
Office
Level 5, 221 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Doogue + George does criminal and traffic law only. It doesn't handle wills, property or family matters. Its main office is on Queen Street in the Melbourne CBD, close to the courts, with suburban offices in Broadmeadows, Heidelberg, Moorabbin and Sunshine. Directors include Bill Doogue and Andrew George, and the firm says several of its lawyers are accredited criminal law specialists. It handles drink and drug driving, assault, drug charges, intervention orders and bail. It suits anyone facing a charge or a court date. The phone line runs around the clock.
Also worth knowing
Merged with criminal firm Lethbridges in 2021.
Lawyers
Bill Doogue, Director
Andrew George, Director
Kristina Kothrakis, Director
Dee Giannopoulos, Director
Una Ebsworth, Director
Sophie Parsons, Partner
Amelia Ramsay, Partner
Holly Boylan, Partner
Ophelia Hollway, Partner
Areas of solicitors law handled
Drink and drug driving
Traffic offences and licence matters
Assault and family violence charges
Drug charges
Theft, fraud and dishonesty
Intervention orders
Bail applications
Appeals
White collar and regulatory investigations
Office
Level 5, 221 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Other details
Other offices
Broadmeadows, Heidelberg, Moorabbin and Sunshine, plus Sydney
Not published. The firm invites you to get in touch to discuss your situation.
Office
Level 21, 570 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Marshalls & Dent & Wilmoth has a Melbourne CBD office on Bourke Street, plus offices in Williamstown, Mornington, Benalla and Mansfield. Six principals are listed for the CBD office, including Jeffrey Pinch, John McBride and Bryce Menzies, with special counsel, associates and lawyers below them. The firm covers family law, wills and estates, conveyancing and property, commercial work, litigation and workplace law. Its mix of city and regional offices suits clients with property or family in country Victoria as well as in Melbourne. Ask about first meeting terms when you call.
Also worth knowing
Covers family law, wills and estates, conveyancing, commercial and workplace law.
Lawyers
Principals and senior lawyers listed for the CBD office.
Fixed fee proposal for estate planning before work starts, with calls and emails not billed one by one, according to the firm.
Office
Level 1, 5 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Moores works from Burwood Road in Hawthorn and splits its practice between private clients and organisations, mainly not for profits, schools and aged care providers. For individuals it covers wills and estate planning, probate, estate disputes, elder financial abuse, family law and residential property. Jennifer Dixon, who leads wills and estate planning, is an LIV accredited specialist in wills and estates, according to the firm. Estate planning clients get a fixed fee proposal before work starts, and the firm says they aren't billed for each call or email. It suits people with trusts, super or complex estates. It doesn't do criminal or traffic work.
Also worth knowing
Estate planning is quoted as a fixed fee proposal before work begins.
Lawyers
Jennifer Dixon, Practice Leader, Wills and Estate Planning
Rowdy Johnson, Practice Leader, Wills and Estate Planning
James Dimond, Practice Leader, Wills and Estate Planning
Free initial consultation, no obligation, according to the firm.
Office
1st Floor, 186 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011
Full profile: lawyers, services and sources
About the firm
Verduci Lawyers has worked from Barkly Street in Footscray since 1969, when Vincent Verduci founded it as Vincent Verduci & Associates. He is still a partner, alongside Francine Lastrina, who joined in 2007, and four other lawyers are listed. The firm's biggest stream is personal injury, including WorkCover and TAC claims, but it also does conveyancing, wills and probate, family law, business work and debt recovery. Initial consultations are free, according to the firm. It suits families and small businesses in Melbourne's inner west who want a long established local firm.
Founded in 1969
Also worth knowing
Offers free initial consultations, according to the firm.
Local Lawyers is a western suburbs firm built from mergers of several local practices, including Sievers Lee, Graham Legal and Flood Chalmers Meade. Its head office is in Altona North, with offices in Niddrie and Bacchus Marsh, and Russell Cocks is the principal. About 20 lawyers are listed, backed by a large conveyancing and estates support team. It focuses on property and conveyancing, leasing, wills and probate, business sales, debt recovery and litigation, and says it refers out work outside those areas. It doesn't list family or criminal law. It suits west and north west home buyers and executors.
Also worth knowing
Covers conveyancing, leasing, wills, probate, business sales, debt recovery and litigation.
Lawyers
The team page lists about 20 lawyers.
Russell Cocks, Principal
Richard Lee, Lawyer (formerly of Sievers Lee)
Pauline Madden, Lawyer
Myles Bentley, Lawyer
David Cocks, Lawyer
Andrew Cocks, Lawyer
Andrew Marcina, Lawyer
Stephen Kirby, Lawyer
Areas of solicitors law handled
Buying and selling property
Property law, caveats and easements
Subdivisions
Commercial and retail leasing
Business sales and purchases
Wills and powers of attorney
Probate and deceased estates
Debt recovery
Litigation
Office
23 Lobelia Drive, Altona North VIC 3025
Other details
Other offices
Niddrie (Level 1, Suite 3, 326 Keilor Road) and Bacchus Marsh (127 Main Street)
Firm details come from each firm's own website. Google ratings are shown as published on Google and don't set the order. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Not sure which firm suits you?
Tell us a little about your matter and we'll put you in touch with a Melbourne solicitors lawyer. It's free and there's no obligation.
How we compiled this list
We include firms with a Melbourne office that handle the everyday matters people take to a solicitor, such as wills and estates, conveyancing, family law, small business work, debts and disputes, and minor court matters. Most are general practices. Where a firm covers a narrower range, such as only criminal and traffic law or only property and estates, we say so in the write-up. For each firm we read its own website in October 2026 and wrote the description ourselves. In Victoria, specialist accreditation is run by the Law Institute of Victoria. We only name an accredited specialist where the firm's site says so, and we couldn't check each name against the LIV directory. Free consultations and fee terms are as the firm describes them, so confirm them when you call. We show Google ratings with the date we checked them.
Some firms pay for a featured listing, which affects where they appear on this page. Payment doesn't buy the write-up. We write those ourselves, and firms don't get to edit them. If something here is out of date, let us know. There's more detail on how we rank law firms.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Rules are as published by the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, Victoria Legal Aid, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Victoria Law Foundation and the Victorian Bar in October 2026. Costs dispute limits are as at 1 July 2026.
What a solicitor does, and when you need a barrister
For most legal problems a solicitor is where you start. The Victoria Law Foundation says solicitors advise clients, prepare legal documents and brief barristers when a matter is going to court or needs specialist advice. Some solicitors also represent clients in the Magistrates' Court themselves.
Solicitor
Barrister
First contact
Usually your first point of contact. Advises you on your legal problem, prepares documents and briefs a barrister if needed
Usually briefed by your solicitor if the matter goes to court or needs specialist advice
Court
Some represent clients in the Magistrates' Court or help barristers in the higher courts
Specialises in representing clients in court. The Victorian Bar says barristers also work as negotiators and mediators
Paperwork
Prepares legal documents
Can't incorporate companies, convey property or administer a trust
Hiring them yourself
Yes
Not obliged to take work directly from individuals, but many do
Because barristers can't do conveyancing, set up companies or administer trusts, that work goes to a solicitor, or for conveyancing, a licensed conveyancer. If you do go straight to a barrister, you should receive an Information to a Prospective Client Disclosure Statement, which explains any effect that using a barrister without a solicitor may have on your case. You can find a barrister through your solicitor, a barristers' clerk or the Victorian Bar website. For criminal charges in a Magistrates' Court, the Victorian Bar's BarristerCONNECT service is an online way to find one.
Check your solicitor is registered
The Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner (VLSB+C) urges people to search its Register of Lawyers so they only use a qualified lawyer. That includes when someone approaches you offering legal services. The register shows:
the lawyer's name, their law practice and an address for service (suburb, state and postcode only)
any disciplinary action taken against the lawyer, with a link to more information
languages spoken, areas of law and any Law Institute of Victoria accredited specialisations, but only where the lawyer has agreed to list them
Because those last fields are optional, a blank one tells you nothing. A lawyer with no areas of law listed may still do the work you need, so ask the firm. If a firm says a lawyer is an accredited specialist, the LIV's own directory of accredited specialists is the better place to check.
What a solicitor costs, and your right to know in advance
Solicitors charge by the hour, by a fixed fee or by another method, and some firms on this list quote fixed fees for wills, standard conveyancing or estate planning. Whatever the method, Victorian law gives you a right to know the likely cost before the work runs up.
Likely legal costs (excluding GST and disbursements)
What your lawyer must give you
$750 or less
No written disclosure or estimate is required, but you can ask for one
More than $750, up to $3,000
A written costs disclosure and an estimate. The lawyer can use a shorter standard disclosure form
More than $3,000
A full written costs disclosure, with an estimate of the total and how you'll be billed
Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner, October 2026.
When: for most matters, the disclosure must be given soon after you engage the lawyer
The estimate: it can be a total or a range that explains what will drive the cost, and it should be genuine and reasonable. If costs are likely to rise, the lawyer should tell you in writing as soon as possible. Before a settlement is finalised, they must estimate the costs you'll have to pay
What it covers: the work to be done, expected costs and disbursements, your rights, your right to written progress reports, and any other lawyers they bring in, such as a barrister, with their terms
Costs agreements: you can ask for and negotiate a costs agreement and the billing method. It's enforceable like any other contract. You don't have to sign it to be bound: if you keep instructing the lawyer, you're treated as agreeing to its terms. A no win, no fee agreement is the exception, and it must be a written costs agreement
If disclosure isn't done properly: any costs agreement is void, and the lawyer can't recover costs from you until they've been assessed or a costs dispute has been decided
Your bill. Your lawyer must give you a bill before asking you to pay, and can't charge you for preparing it. If you get a lump sum or partly itemised bill, you can ask for an itemised one within 30 days of the costs becoming payable, and the lawyer must provide it within 21 days. An itemised bill can come out higher than the lump sum, but the lawyer can only recover the extra if two things happen: they warned you in writing, when they gave you the lump sum bill, that this could happen, and the higher amount is then confirmed through a costs assessment or a binding decision by the Commissioner.
Disputing a bill or complaining about a solicitor
Start with the lawyer. For most complaints the VLSB+C requires you to show you've tried to sort it out with them first.
Costs disputes. Only the person responsible for paying the costs, usually the client, can dispute them. For a deceased estate, the executor can and the beneficiaries can't.
Act quickly: the VLSB+C generally needs a costs dispute within 60 days of the bill becoming payable (usually the date of the bill), or, if you asked for an itemised bill, within 30 days of receiving it. The VLSB+C's own pages word the itemised bill deadline slightly differently, so don't leave it late. Late disputes are accepted only in limited cases, and you must explain the delay
Being sued: a lawyer can sue over an unpaid bill after 30 days, and the VLSB+C can't help once you've been sued. Lodging a dispute stops the lawyer starting recovery proceedings while the VLSB+C deals with it, but you may choose to pay on time anyway, because a lawyer can charge interest on an overdue bill
The Costs Court: you can also apply to the Costs Court of the Supreme Court of Victoria to review your legal costs, even if you've paid, within 12 months of receiving your final bill. Extensions are possible
Your total legal bills
What the VLSB+C can do
Up to $31,440
Accept the dispute, and may do a costs review
$31,440 to $314,330
Informal resolution, including mediation, but no costs review
More than $314,330
Informal resolution only
If your total bill is more than $314,330, the VLSB+C may still be able to deal with it as a costs dispute if the amount you're disputing is less than $31,440. Its pages word this rule differently, so check with the VLSB+C before you rely on it.
VLSB+C limits from 1 July 2026. They're likely to change each July.
Complaints about service or conduct. Anyone can complain about a lawyer's conduct, but only a client can complain about the quality of service. Consumer matters cover costs disputes, poor service and minor conduct issues. Disciplinary matters cover misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct. Complaints about service or conduct generally have to be made within three years of the conduct. Costs disputes have the much shorter 60 day (or 30 day) limit set out above.
How: use the VLSB+C's online Consumer enquiry form, with your documents and correspondence ready, or call (03) 9679 8001 or 1300 796 344
Sexual harassment by a lawyer: a separate line on (03) 9679 8090, or the VLSB+C's online reporting tool
Lost trust money: the VLSB+C also handles claims for trust money or property held by a lawyer that has gone missing
What it can't deal with: matters before the courts, including where your lawyer has sued you, licensed conveyancers (complaints go to Consumer Affairs Victoria), and judges, magistrates and court staff (the Judicial Commission of Victoria)
Finding the right solicitor
A general practice firm handles a spread of everyday work, so one office can do your will, your house purchase and a small business contract. Most firms on this list work that way. If your matter is a criminal charge, a contested estate or a complex property settlement, a firm or lawyer who does that work every day is worth the extra search.
LIV referral: the Law Institute of Victoria's Find Your Lawyer Referral Service can put you in touch with a firm for a free first interview of up to 30 minutes to talk about your problem and the costs. Victoria Legal Aid points out that it isn't 30 minutes of free legal advice. The LIV itself doesn't give legal advice
Accredited specialists: the LIV accredits lawyers as specialists in particular areas of law. A specialist needs at least five years of full time practice, including at least three years in the specialist area, a pass in a comprehensive exam and ongoing professional development, and is re-accredited every three years. Accreditation isn't required to practise. You can search the LIV's directory of accredited specialists
What to bring: for its own appointments, Victoria Legal Aid says to bring any documents about your legal issue, such as letters, court papers, fines, police statements, emails or medical reports, and a written list of questions. When you book with a private firm, ask what it wants to see
When you call, ask who will do the work, how they charge, and whether the first meeting is free. Some firms here offer a free first conference or consultation, and others don't publish their terms.
Free legal help in Melbourne
Victoria Legal Aid and community legal centres help with some legal problems for free. Private solicitors charge.
Victoria Legal Aid Legal Help: 1300 792 387, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, closed on public holidays. The line is often busy, so call early. It gives legal information and referrals, with legal advice only for people who are eligible, and it organises a free interpreter when you call. Legal Help Chat on the VLA website runs the same hours but can't book appointments or give specific advice. Appointments at VLA offices are booked on the same number, depending on your circumstances
For a VLA appointment: along with your documents and questions, VLA asks you to bring your health care card and proof of income, because legal advice depends on eligibility
Community legal centres: free, confidential legal help, independent of government. There are 49 in Victoria. Some cover a local area across a range of issues, and others specialise in an area of law or a group of people. They focus on people facing disadvantage, such as money problems, family violence, homelessness or discrimination. Search by postcode or suburb on the Federation of Community Legal Centres website, or call it on (03) 9652 1501
Disaster Legal Help Victoria: 1800 113 432, for legal questions after a disaster
Melbourne solicitors law: common questions
What's the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?
A solicitor is usually your first point of contact. They advise you, prepare documents and run the matter, and some represent clients in the Magistrates' Court. Barristers specialise in representing clients in court, and a solicitor usually briefs one when a matter is going to court or needs specialist advice. Barristers can't convey property, set up companies or administer trusts.
Can I go straight to a barrister without a solicitor?
Sometimes. The Victorian Bar says barristers aren't obliged to take work directly from individuals, but many do. If one agrees, you should receive an Information to a Prospective Client Disclosure Statement, which explains any effect that having no solicitor may have on your case.
How do I check a solicitor is registered in Victoria?
Search the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner's Register of Lawyers. It shows the lawyer's name, law practice and suburb, and any disciplinary action. Languages, areas of law and accredited specialisations only appear if the lawyer agrees, so a blank field doesn't mean much.
Does my solicitor have to tell me what it will cost?
Yes, if the legal costs are likely to be more than $750, excluding GST and disbursements. The lawyer must give you a written disclosure and an estimate of the total, and update you in writing if costs are likely to rise. Under $750 they don't have to, but you can ask.
How do I dispute my solicitor's bill?
Raise it with the lawyer first. If that doesn't work, contact the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commissioner quickly. It generally needs a dispute within 60 days of the bill becoming payable (usually the date of the bill), or, if you asked for an itemised bill, within 30 days of receiving it, so don't leave it late. The lawyer can sue after 30 days, and the VLSB+C can't help once you've been sued.
How do I make a complaint about a solicitor?
Try to resolve it with the lawyer first. Then use the VLSB+C's online Consumer enquiry form, or call (03) 9679 8001 or 1300 796 344. Anyone can complain about a lawyer's conduct, only clients can complain about service, and complaints generally have to be made within three years.
Is the LIV's free 30 minute interview free legal advice?
Not exactly. The Law Institute of Victoria's referral service can arrange a free first interview of up to 30 minutes with a referred firm to talk about your problem and the costs. Victoria Legal Aid points out that it isn't 30 minutes of free legal advice.
General information only, not legal advice.
Looking in another city? See all our solicitors by city, with a plain English guide to how it works.
