Administrative lawyers challenge government decisions.
firms
118
regions
16
AI-generated editorial image
They advise on merits review, judicial review and freedom of information.
Why administrative & government law matters
Government decisions affect licences, benefits and rights. Review can correct errors and unfair outcomes.
The Australian context
Federal decisions can be reviewed by the Administrative Review Tribunal and, for legal errors, by the Federal Court. States have their own tribunals and judicial review processes, plus freedom of information laws.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(52)Google rating from 52 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gateway Law & Migration Australia Pty Ltd provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Citizenship.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Citizenship · Partner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas · Wills & Estates · Criminal Law · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(51)Google rating from 51 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Waterfront Lawyers provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Administrative & Government Law · Building & Construction
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Attadale, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
MGM Settlements provides conveyancing services in Attadale, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing and Administrative & Government Law.
Property & Conveyancing+1 moreAdministrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(49)Google rating from 49 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Varga Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Randwick, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(45)Google rating from 45 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
One Title e provides legal services in Randwick, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Property & Conveyancing+2 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Morwell, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(44)Google rating from 44 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stephen Peterson Lawyers provides legal services in Morwell, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Child Protection & Care Matters.
Criminal Law+5 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Child Protection & Care Matters · Traffic Offences · Administrative & Government Law · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Brisbane City, QLD · Brisbane CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(42)Google rating from 42 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clements Fitzgerald Lawyers provides legal services in Brisbane City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Family Law and Criminal Law.
Health & Medical Practitioner Law+7 moreFamily Law · Criminal Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Administrative & Government Law · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Braddon, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.3(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Colquhoun Murphy provides legal services in Braddon, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Defamation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Defamation · Wills & Estates · Personal Injury · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Employment Law · Administrative & Government Law
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Yarralumla, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(41)Google rating from 41 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Topaz Legal provides legal services in Yarralumla, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Strata & Body Corporate.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreWills & Estates · Strata & Body Corporate · Administrative & Government Law · Contract Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(40)Google rating from 40 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
D & X Legal provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Administrative & Government Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Toowoomba City, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(36)Google rating from 36 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Finch Legal provides legal services in Toowoomba City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Business & Commercial Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Commercial Property & Leasing · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Administrative & Government Law
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North Sydney, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(29)Google rating from 29 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
DOBBIE & DEVINE Immigration Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in North Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Visa Cancellation & Character (s501) and Business & Commercial Law.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreVisa Cancellation & Character (s501) · Business & Commercial Law · Administrative & Government Law · Citizenship · Visa Refusals & Tribunal Appeals · Skilled & Business Visas
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Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(29)Google rating from 29 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Quinn Law Group provides legal services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Commercial Litigation, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Family Law.
Commercial Litigation+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law · Immigration & Visas · Criminal Law · Drink & Drug Driving · Administrative & Government Law · Property & ConveyancingFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
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Maryborough, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(23)Google rating from 23 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Noonan & Sutherland provides legal services in Maryborough, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Administrative & Government Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Criminal Law · Partner & Family VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lieschke & Weatherill Lawyers provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Public Liability, Medical Negligence and Workers Compensation.
Public Liability+7 moreMedical Negligence · Workers Compensation · Administrative & Government Law · Partner & Family Visas · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Employment Law · NDIS & Disability Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Randwick, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(21)Google rating from 21 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Walkabout Migration Lawyers provides legal services in Randwick, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+6 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas · Building & Construction · Planning & Environment · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Deakin, ACT · Canberra
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(19)Google rating from 19 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
David Healey Solicitors provides legal services in Deakin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Administrative & Government Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Business & Commercial Law+6 moreAdministrative & Government Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Criminal Law · Workers Compensation · Medical Negligence · Personal InjuryFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Firle, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(17)Google rating from 17 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Elite Conveyancing Adelaide provides conveyancing services in Firle, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Banking & Finance.
Property & Conveyancing+4 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Banking & Finance · Commercial Property & Leasing · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sunshine, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(16)Google rating from 16 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
NGUYEN DO LAWYERS provides legal services in Sunshine, VIC. Listed practice areas include Notary Public & JP Services, Immigration & Visas and Family Law.
Notary Public & JP Services+7 moreImmigration & Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Property & Conveyancing · Administrative & Government Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Turnbull & Company Solicitors provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Insolvency & Restructuring · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(15)Google rating from 15 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Turnbull & Company Solicitors provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Administrative & Government Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Fraud & White Collar Crime · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Shellharbour, NSW · Illawarra & Wollongong
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(14)Google rating from 14 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cruz Lawyers provides legal services in Shellharbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Building & Construction, Property & Conveyancing and Criminal Law.
Building & Construction+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Criminal Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Commercial Litigation · Administrative & Government Law · Residential Tenancy · Assault & Violent Offences
Understand the next step
A practical guide to administrative & government law
What to discuss at the first meeting
Identify the decision-maker, decision and date of notification. Ask whether the issue concerns merits, procedure, legal authority or a service complaint.
A complaint and a formal review may have different effects and deadlines.
How the engagement may progress
01
Keep the complete notice, reasons and review information. Record when and how the decision was received.
02
Ask whether internal review, a tribunal, complaint or court process is available. The Administrative Review Tribunal reviews specified Commonwealth decisions, not every government matter.
03
Identify evidence relevant to the disputed findings and ask how the agency file can be obtained. Clarify the result the reviewer can provide.
Fees and the scope of work
Clarify charges for advice, submissions, appearances and reports. Ask about legal aid or specialist assistance where appropriate.
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
Give the decision and receipt dates immediately. A general complaint may not preserve an opportunity to seek formal review.
Questions to ask a administrative & government law adviser
Which review route is available?
What can the reviewing body decide?
Which body can review this decision?
What date and requirements need immediate attention?
What evidence is missing and what can the process achieve?
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
What is judicial review?
A court review of whether a government decision was made lawfully.
How do I appeal an NDIS decision?
Ask for an internal review first. If you're still unhappy, you can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal. Free advocacy services are available as well as private lawyers.
Can I complain about discrimination?
Yes. Complaints can go to the Australian Human Rights Commission or your state's anti-discrimination body, depending on the type of discrimination and where it happened.
