Not-for-profit lawyers advise charities on structure, governance and ACNC compliance.
firms
38
regions
16
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They help set up associations and companies limited by guarantee, apply for charity registration and advise boards.
Why not-for-profit & charity law matters
Charities and community organisations need the right structure and governance to access tax concessions and protect volunteers.
The Australian context
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission registers and regulates charities, while associations are incorporated under state law. Deductible gift recipient status is managed by the ATO.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Herston, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(181)Google rating from 181 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Vocare Law provides legal services in Herston, QLD. Listed practice areas include Not-for-Profit & Charity Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Not-for-Profit & Charity Law+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Administrative & Government Law · Criminal Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(61)Google rating from 61 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
My Community Legal Gold Coast provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Partner & Family Visas+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Mediation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(56)Google rating from 56 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
TASC Legal and Social Justice Service provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Elder Law & Aged Care.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+6 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Elder Law & Aged Care · Criminal Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Family Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Canberra, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
BAL Lawyers provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Geebung, QLD · Brisbane North & Moreton Bay
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Donovan Legal provides legal services in Geebung, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Upper Orara, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lee Sames Egan provides legal services in Upper Orara, NSW. Listed practice areas include Elder Law & Aged Care, NDIS & Disability Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Elder Law & Aged Care+3 moreNDIS & Disability Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Triabunna, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
East Coast Health provides legal services in Triabunna, TAS. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal and Partner & Family Visas.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+4 moreMental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Partner & Family Visas · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lewis Holdway Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Not-for-Profit & Charity Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
Not-for-Profit & Charity Law+4 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Parap, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Darwin Community Legal Service provides legal services in Parap, NT. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Human Rights & Discrimination and NDIS & Disability Law.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+5 moreHuman Rights & Discrimination · NDIS & Disability Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Partner & Family VisasFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top End Women's Legal Service provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Employment Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Family Law+4 moreEmployment Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Property & Conveyancing · Partner & Family Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreEstate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Avoca Beach, NSW · Central Coast
Australian And New Zealand Sports Law Association provides legal services in Avoca Beach, NSW. Listed practice areas include Sports & Entertainment Law, Competition & Consumer Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Sports & Entertainment Law+3 moreCompetition & Consumer Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albany, WA · Great Southern
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreEstate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Joondalup, WA · Perth North
Greenstone Legal Albany provides legal services in Joondalup, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts and Planning & Environment.
Wills & Estates+7 moreEstate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yackandandah, VIC · Hume & North East
Halliday Solicitors provides legal services in Yackandandah, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Planning & Environment · Partner & Family Visas · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Fremantle, WA · Perth South
PBC Legal and Consultancy provides legal services in Fremantle, WA. Listed practice areas include Native Title & Aboriginal Legal Services, Employment Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Native Title & Aboriginal Legal Services+2 moreEmployment Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victor Harbor, SA · Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island
Tri provides conveyancing services in Victor Harbor, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Partner & Family Visas · Child Protection & Care Matters · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(187)Google rating from 187 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David William Brothers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★3.4(58)Google rating from 58 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Men's Legal Service provides legal services in Underwood, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Partner & Family Visas and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Family Law+4 morePartner & Family Visas · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Domestic Violence & AVOs
★★★★★★★★★★4.0(54)Google rating from 54 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Salvos Stores provides legal services in Pialba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+5 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Human Rights & Discrimination · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Not-for-Profit & Charity Law
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(31)Google rating from 31 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Illawarra Legal Centre Inc provides legal services in Warrawong, NSW. Listed practice areas include Administrative & Government Law and Not-for-Profit & Charity Law.
Administrative & Government Law+1 moreNot-for-Profit & Charity Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(28)Google rating from 28 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Griffin Legal provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Not-for-Profit & Charity Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreNot-for-Profit & Charity Law · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Administrative & Government Law
Understand the next step
A practical guide to not-for-profit & charity law
What to discuss at the first meeting
Explain the organisation’s structure, activities and proposed change. Clarify whether advice is for the organisation, its committee or an individual with a potential conflict.
Ask whether charity, tax and fundraising matters are included or require separate input.
How the engagement may progress
01
Explain the transaction, amount involved, parties and desired result. Provide the current agreement and relevant entity or trust details.
02
Ask which risks need legal, accounting, tax or technical advice. Identify essential terms and those you are willing to negotiate.
03
Agree who negotiates, approves documents and tracks continuing obligations. Clarify whether post-completion advice is included.
Fees and the scope of work
Request a defined scope or staged budget with assumptions about document review and negotiation rounds. Personal guarantees, tax and related disputes may need separate work.
Ask for a written scope identifying the work you are authorising, the person responsible and when costs will be reviewed. If you only want advice on one step, say so before the firm begins wider work.
Dates to raise at first contact
Highlight signing dates, finance conditions and demands. Raise an inability to meet debts immediately so appropriate advice can be identified before further commitments.
Questions to ask a not-for-profit & charity law adviser
Which entity and governance obligations need review?
Who may instruct and approve the work?
Who is your client: the business or me personally?
What specialist input is required?
Which risks and exclusions should I understand before approving the document?
Directory guidance updated 19 September 2026. General information to help you prepare for a conversation with a professional; not advice about your individual matter. Check current requirements with the relevant authority.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How does a charity get tax concessions?
By registering with the ACNC and applying to the ATO for relevant concessions.
Do I need a lawyer to start a company?
You can register a company yourself. A lawyer is useful for the shareholders agreement, the right structure for tax and asset protection, and making sure your contracts and terms protect you.
Should a lawyer review a commercial lease?
Yes. Leases often run for years and can include costly obligations such as make-good, outgoings and personal guarantees. Some states also have retail leasing laws that affect your rights.
