Planning lawyers help with development applications, council appeals and environmental law.
firms
1,182
regions
16
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They advise developers, landowners and objectors on approvals, conditions and appeals, and act in environmental prosecutions and land valuation matters.
Why planning & environment matters
Planning decisions shape what can be built and where. Appeals and objections have strict timeframes.
The Australian context
Planning is controlled by state legislation and local councils, with specialist courts or tribunals such as the NSW Land and Environment Court and VCAT's planning list. Federal approval is required for matters of national environmental significance.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Haille Paine Solicitors provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Glenelg South, SA · Adelaide Metro
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Kin Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Glenelg South, SA. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+3 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(13)Google rating from 13 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Sedsman Legal provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Robina, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Dillon Legal provides legal services in Robina, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Powers of Attorney & Guardianship.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★3.3(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
FitzGerald and Browne Lawyers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreFamily Law · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Divorce & Separation · Partner & Family Visas · Human Rights & DiscriminationNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Coffs Harbour, NSW · Mid North Coast
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lee Sames Egan provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Probate & Estate Administration.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Samaras Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Business & Commercial Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Probate & Estate Administration · Buying or Selling a Business
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Cairns City, QLD · Cairns & Far North
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(12)Google rating from 12 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Your Will and Estate provides legal services in Cairns City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Probate & Estate Administration and Planning & Environment.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bowral, NSW · Southern Highlands & Tablelands
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Clicklaw Australia provides legal services in Bowral, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wagga Wagga, NSW · Riverina & Murray
★★★★★★★★★★3.9(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Friedlieb Fox McLeod provides legal services in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Parenting & Child Custody.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Bairnsdale, VIC · Gippsland
★★★★★★★★★★3.7(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Gippsland Community Legal Service provides legal services in Bairnsdale, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Family Law and Health & Medical Practitioner Law.
Wills & Estates+7 moreFamily Law · Health & Medical Practitioner Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Mental Health & Guardianship Tribunal · Divorce & Separation · Planning & Environment · Centrelink & Social Security
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Southport, QLD · Gold Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
JHL Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Southport, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Commercial Litigation
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Adelaide, SA · Adelaide CBD
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Macpherson Kelley provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Property & Conveyancing and Franchising.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Ballarat Central, VIC · Ballarat & Central Highlands
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers provides legal services in Ballarat Central, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, TPD & Superannuation Claims and Personal Injury.
Wills & Estates+7 moreTPD & Superannuation Claims · Personal Injury · Public Liability · Medical Negligence · Workers Compensation · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial LawNo win, no fee
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Dalby, QLD · Toowoomba & Darling Downs
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(11)Google rating from 11 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Skuse Graham Criminal Lawyers Warwick provides legal services in Dalby, QLD. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Domestic Violence & AVOs.
Criminal Law+6 moreTraffic Offences · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Partner & Family Visas · Business & Commercial Law · Bail Applications · Planning & Environment
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Mandurah, WA · Perth South
★★★★★★★★★★3.0(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Amanda Liston Legal provides legal services in Mandurah, WA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Planning & Environment and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Wills & Estates+4 morePlanning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship · Elder Law & Aged Care
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Hobart, TAS · Hobart & South
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Boylan Lawyers provides legal services in Hobart, TAS. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Family Law+8 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Parenting & Child Custody · Planning & Environment · Criminal Law · General Practice (regional generalist)
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Crosby Brosnan & Creen provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Divorce & Separation · Parenting & Child CustodyFree first consult
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Townsville City, QLD · Townsville & North Queensland
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Crosby Brosnan & Creen provides legal services in Townsville City, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Moruya, NSW · South Coast
★★★★★★★★★★3.8(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Fleming Law Pty Ltd provides legal services in Moruya, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship
Verified: phone number confirmed on the firm’s website and Google
Wyoming, NSW · Central Coast
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(10)Google rating from 10 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Goldrick Farrell Mullan Lawyers incorporating Michael Daly Solicitors provides legal services in Wyoming, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Notary Public & JP Services · Probate & Estate Administration
Understand the next step
A practical guide to planning & environment
What to discuss at the first meeting
Provide the property address, proposed use and any council or agency decision. Planning advice should identify the actual application, approval or enforcement issue rather than assume all land can be used the same way.
Ask about applicable objection or review dates before relying on informal discussions.
How the engagement may progress
01
Provide the address, parties and current contract or notice. Explain whether anything has been signed and identify every agreed date.
02
Ask which terms, searches and ownership questions will be reviewed. Explain finance, proposed use and any linked transaction.
03
Agree who communicates with agents, lenders and the other side. Confirm how documents are approved and what happens if the matter is delayed or disputed.
Fees and the scope of work
Separate legal fees from searches, registration, taxes and third-party expenses. Complex ownership, negotiations or a dispute may fall outside an advertised conveyancing price.
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
Seek review before signing where possible. Ask about the actual dates in your documents; cooling-off and completion arrangements differ across states and transactions.
Questions to ask a planning & environment adviser
What decision or approval is being assessed?
Is a planner or other expert also needed?
What is included and what counts as extra work?
Have you handled this kind of transaction or dispute?
What must be decided before signing or the next scheduled date?
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
Can I appeal a council refusal?
Usually, yes, to the state planning court or tribunal, within strict time limits.
Lawyer or conveyancer?
For a straightforward residential purchase or sale, a licensed conveyancer is usually enough. Use a solicitor if the property is unusual, the contract has non-standard terms, or there is a dispute or estate involved.
When should I get the contract checked?
Before you sign or bid at auction. Once contracts are exchanged or you've bought at auction, your ability to withdraw is limited.
