Employment lawyers advise on contracts, dismissals, entitlements and workplace disputes.
firms
394
regions
16
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They act for employees and employers across the Fair Work system and state workplace laws.
Why employment law matters
Work is central to income and wellbeing. Employment disputes move fast and time limits are short.
The Australian context
Most private sector employment is governed by the Fair Work Act 2009, the National Employment Standards and modern awards, administered by the Fair Work Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman. Some state public sector and WA sole trader employers remain under state systems.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MacDonnells Law provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Planning & Environment, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Planning & Environment+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Employment Law · Building & Construction · Partner & Family Visas · Coronial Inquests
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Rockhampton City, QLD · Central Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fisher Farmer Lawyers provides legal services in Rockhampton City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Burrill Lake, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shoalhaven Lawyers provides legal services in Burrill Lake, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Employment Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bella Vista, NSW · Hills District
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Branston Neville Lawyers provides legal services in Bella Vista, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Criminal Law · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Lismore, NSW · Northern Rivers
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Randall Legal provides legal services in Lismore, NSW. Listed practice areas include Coronial Inquests, Criminal Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Coronial Inquests+7 moreCriminal Law · Administrative & Government Law · Wills & Estates · Property & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
E.Law International provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Probate & Estate Administration.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment Law4 languages
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ipswich, QLD · Ipswich
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sibley Lawyers provides legal services in Ipswich, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Employment Law and Traffic Offences.
Criminal Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Traffic Offences · Family Law · Class Actions · Assault & Violent Offences · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Contract LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Archer Thompson Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Commercial Litigation, Employment Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Commercial Litigation+4 moreEmployment Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Arns & Associates provides legal services in Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Employment Law.
Insolvency & Restructuring+2 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Richardson & Lyons provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Public Liability and Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP.
Personal Injury+6 morePublic Liability · Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP · Employment Law · Workers Compensation · Administrative & Government Law · Building & ConstructionNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Surry Hills, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sydun & Co Solicitors provides legal services in Surry Hills, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · Wills & Estates · Divorce & Separation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bunbury, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Workwise Employment Lawyers provides legal services in Bunbury, WA. Listed practice areas include Employment Law, Unfair Dismissal and Business & Commercial Law.
Employment Law+3 moreUnfair Dismissal · Business & Commercial Law · Defamation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Box Hill, VIC · Eastern Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
J2 Legal provides legal services in Box Hill, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Commercial Litigation.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Commercial Litigation · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Employment Law · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McCarthy Durie Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Capalaba, QLD · Brisbane South & Logan
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
McCarthy Durie Lawyers provides legal services in Capalaba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Commercial Property & Leasing · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulladulla, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Shoalhaven Lawyers provides legal services in Ulladulla, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Criminal Law and Drink & Drug Driving.
Family Law+7 moreCriminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Employment Law · Contested Wills & Family Provision · Personal Injury · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial LawFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Darwin City, NT · Darwin & Palmerston
★★★★★★★★★★4.2(9)Google rating from 9 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Piper Grimster Jones Lawyers provides legal services in Darwin City, NT. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Employment Law.
Wills & Estates+2 morePersonal Injury · Employment Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
East Perth, WA · Perth CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Havilah Legal provides legal services in East Perth, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Employment Law and Wills & Estates.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreEmployment Law · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Sports & Entertainment Law · Probate & Estate Administration · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOsFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Newcastle, NSW · Newcastle & Hunter
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
SWS Lawyers provides legal services in Newcastle, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Employment Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Neutral Bay, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Toltz Lawyers provides legal services in Neutral Bay, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cowra, NSW · Central West & Orana
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clark McNamara Lawyers provides legal services in Cowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Insolvency & Restructuring and Employment Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreInsolvency & Restructuring · Employment Law · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Planning & Environment · Building & Construction
Understand the next step
A practical guide to employment law
What to discuss at the first meeting
Explain whether the matter concerns a contract, pay, leave, termination or a workplace process. Identify the employer and your role so the lawyer can determine the relevant framework.
An employment issue and an injury or insurance claim may need separate instructions.
How the engagement may progress
01
Gather the contract, dates, pay records and relevant correspondence. Identify the employer’s legal name rather than only a trading name.
02
Ask which law or process applies and whether its requirements are met. Fair Work Commission unfair dismissal applications have a 21-day filing timeframe, making prompt advice important.
03
Agree how to respond, prepare for a meeting or assess a settlement. Have any release and confidentiality terms explained before signing.
Fees and the scope of work
Advice on a single document, an investigation response and ongoing representation need different estimates. Ask what negotiation and appearance work is covered.
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
Put the dismissal or decision date in the first enquiry. Ask whether an external deadline is running while an internal complaint is being considered.
Questions to ask a employment law adviser
Which issue and process should be assessed first?
Does the scope include negotiation or representation?
Which claim or response fits these facts?
What deadline applies and what do you need now?
Does the engagement include conciliation or a hearing?
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
Is my employment contract enforceable?
Generally yes, but it can't provide less than the National Employment Standards or applicable award.
How long do I have to claim unfair dismissal?
An unfair dismissal application must be lodged with the Fair Work Commission within 21 days of the dismissal taking effect. Late applications are only accepted in exceptional circumstances.
Can my employer change my contract?
Not without your agreement, unless the contract allows it. Changes that reduce pay or conditions below the award or agreement are generally not allowed.
