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
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
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adrian Paull Criminal Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Criminal Law+1 moreAdministrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warrnambool, VIC · Western District & Wimmera
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Bellman Legal provides legal services in Warrnambool, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Citizenship and Partner & Family Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 moreCitizenship · Partner & Family Visas · Criminal Law · Visa Cancellation & Character (s501) · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Administrative & Government Law · Traffic Offences
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
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Enderwick Lawyers provides legal services in Tweed Heads, NSW. Listed practice areas include Administrative & Government Law, Criminal Law and Skilled & Business Visas.
Administrative & Government Law+2 moreCriminal Law · Skilled & Business Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Nowra, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
South Coast & Country Community Law provides legal services in Nowra, NSW. Listed practice areas include Administrative & Government Law, Family Law and Immigration & Visas.
Administrative & Government Law+2 moreFamily Law · Immigration & VisasFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Victoria Park, WA · Perth East
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Prime Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Victoria Park, WA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Divorce & Separation.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Divorce & Separation · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Criminal Law · Family Property Settlement · Binding Financial Agreements · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ulverstone, TAS · North West & West Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(8)Google rating from 8 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Walsh Day Mihal Bassett Barristers and Solicitors provides legal services in Ulverstone, TAS. 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 · Administrative & Government Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Launceston, TAS · Launceston & North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Nexus Immigration provides legal services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Partner & Family Visas and Skilled & Business Visas.
Immigration & Visas+6 morePartner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas · Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Administrative & Government Law · Business & Commercial Law · Citizenship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Chatswood, NSW · Sydney North Shore & Northern Beaches
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(7)Google rating from 7 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Stanley Immigration & Law provides legal services in Chatswood, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) and Administrative & Government Law.
Immigration & Visas+2 moreRegistered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albury, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Belbridge Fleming Law provides legal services in Albury, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Penrith, NSW · Western Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(6)Google rating from 6 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
The People's Solicitors provides legal services in Penrith, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Defamation.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Defamation · Administrative & Government Law · Family Law · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Criminal Law · Personal Injury
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Merimbula, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(5)Google rating from 5 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Cruz Lawyers provides legal services in Merimbula, 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
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Yarraville, VIC · Western Melbourne
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(4)Google rating from 4 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Rise Migration Lawyers provides legal services in Yarraville, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Partner & Family Visas and Skilled & Business Visas.
Immigration & Visas+7 morePartner & Family Visas · Skilled & Business Visas · Citizenship · Visa Cancellation & Character (s501) · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Business & Commercial Law · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Goulburn, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dougall John R provides legal services in Goulburn, NSW. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Business & Commercial Law+5 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Busselton, WA · South West
★★★★★★★★★★1.0(3)Google rating from 3 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sou' West Legal Services provides legal services in Busselton, WA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Administrative & Government Law and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+2 moreAdministrative & Government Law · Wills & Estates
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
K & C Law Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Administrative & Government Law.
Wills & Estates+3 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Administrative & Government Law · Business & Commercial Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Alexandria, NSW · Eastern Suburbs & Inner West
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Oakbridge Lawyers provides legal services in Alexandria, NSW. Listed practice areas include Commercial Litigation, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Insolvency & Restructuring.
Commercial Litigation+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Debt Recovery · Property & Conveyancing · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bendigo, VIC · Bendigo & Loddon
New on GoogleOnly 2 Google reviews so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Sarah Stewart Family Law provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Family Law+6 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Parenting & Child Custody · Administrative & Government Law · Divorce & Separation · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Albany, WA · Great Southern
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
HLPA Legal Services provides legal services in Albany, WA. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Administrative & Government Law.
Business & Commercial Law+2 moreHealth & Medical Practitioner Law · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Noosa Heads, QLD · Sunshine Coast
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Pathway Legal provides legal services in Noosa Heads, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Administrative & Government Law
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Warragul, VIC · Gippsland
New on GoogleOnly 1 Google review so far, not enough for a reliable rating
Stewart Administrative & Migration Lawyers provides legal services in Warragul, VIC. Listed practice areas include Citizenship, Administrative & Government Law and Immigration & Visas.
Citizenship+2 moreAdministrative & Government Law · Immigration & Visas
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Sydney, NSW · Sydney CBD
Daniel Wakim Law Firm provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Administrative & Government Law.
Criminal Law+7 moreDomestic Violence & AVOs · Administrative & Government Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Drug Offences · Assault & Violent Offences · Firearms & Licensing Matters · Fraud & White Collar Crime
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.
