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.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(106)Google rating from 106 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Mercurio & Co. Barristers & Solicitors provides legal services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Family Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Family Law · Divorce & Separation · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(105)Google rating from 105 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Navigate Law provides legal services in Mountain Creek, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.5(103)Google rating from 103 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Levis Stace & Cooper provides conveyancing services in Launceston, TAS. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Family Law
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(101)Google rating from 101 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Laf Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Blaxland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Planning & Environment and Strata & Body Corporate.
Property & Conveyancing+6 morePlanning & Environment · Strata & Body Corporate · Building & Construction · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · NDIS & Disability Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(97)Google rating from 97 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Cheney Suthers Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Agribusiness & Rural Law.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Personal Injury
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(93)Google rating from 93 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
GA Lawyers provides legal services in Kingsgrove, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Notary Public & JP Services and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreNotary Public & JP Services · Property & Conveyancing · Business & Commercial Law · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Family Law2 languages
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(92)Google rating from 92 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Satsias Andrew provides conveyancing services in Gungahlin, ACT. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Strata & Body Corporate and Planning & Environment.
Property & Conveyancing+6 moreStrata & Body Corporate · Planning & Environment · Business & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Wills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Eckermann Conveyancers provides legal services in Mount Gambier, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Partner & Family Visas · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Wills & Estates · Commercial Property & Leasing · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment2 languages
★★★★★★★★★★4.7(90)Google rating from 90 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Winn Legal provides legal services in Bendigo, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Planning & Environment · Wills & Estates · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Agribusiness & Rural Law · Partner & Family Visas · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(89)Google rating from 89 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Argon Law | Commercial Lawyers Sunshine Coast provides legal services in Maroochydore, QLD. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Employment Law · Partner & Family Visas · Planning & Environment · Commercial Property & Leasing
★★★★★★★★★★5.0(85)Google rating from 85 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Parkston Lawyers provides legal services in Cranbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Notary Public & JP Services.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Wills & Estates · Intellectual Property & Trade Marks · Elder Law & Aged Care · Retirement Villages & Aged Care Contracts · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(84)Google rating from 84 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Lynch Meyer Lawyers provides conveyancing services in Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreBusiness & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Insolvency & Restructuring · Planning & Environment · Elder Law & Aged Care · Debt Recovery · Banking & Finance4 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, cantonese, vietnamese
★★★★★★★★★★4.1(83)Google rating from 83 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Coleman Greig Lawyers provides legal services in Parramatta, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Property & Conveyancing and Wills & Estates.
Family Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Wills & Estates · Business & Commercial Law · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Domestic Violence & AVOs · Planning & Environment · Mediation & Dispute ResolutionFree first consultThe firm advertises a free first consultation.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(81)Google rating from 81 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Chamberlains Law Firm provides legal services in Canberra, ACT. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Property & Conveyancing and Class Actions.
Business & Commercial Law+7 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Class Actions · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Wills & Estates · Building & Construction · Planning & Environment · Employment LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(79)Google rating from 79 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Australian Probate Lawyers provides legal services in Nundah, QLD. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Business & Commercial Law and Family Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Elliott & Harvey Lawyers provides legal services in Upper Mount Gravatt, QLD. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(78)Google rating from 78 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Heenan & Co provides legal services in Sydney, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Property & Conveyancing+7 moreWills & Estates · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Partner & Family Visas · Family Law · Business & Commercial Law
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(76)Google rating from 76 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Scammell & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Port Adelaide, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Personal Injury and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Wills & Estates+7 morePersonal Injury · Litigation & Dispute Resolution · Business & Commercial Law · Notary Public & JP Services · Planning & Environment · Family Law · Criminal LawNo win, no feeThe firm mentions no win, no fee arrangements. Confirm terms in writing.Free first consult
★★★★★★★★★★4.6(71)Google rating from 71 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Adelta Legal provides legal services in College Park, SA. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Property & Conveyancing.
Wills & Estates+7 moreLitigation & Dispute Resolution · Property & Conveyancing · Family Law · Planning & Environment · Probate & Estate Administration · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Powers of Attorney & Guardianship5 languagesLanguages mentioned on the firm’s website: mandarin, italian, spanish, french
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in Nunawading, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.4(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Mahons with Yuncken & Yuncken Lawyers provides legal services in Blackburn, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Business & Commercial Law.
★★★★★★★★★★4.9(69)Google rating from 69 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Susan Green Legal Practice provides legal services in Coffs Harbour, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Family Law.
Wills & Estates+4 moreProperty & Conveyancing · Family Law · Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts · Planning & Environment
★★★★★★★★★★4.8(67)Google rating from 67 reviews, retrieved 18 Sept 2026
Top rated4.8★ or higher from at least 50 Google reviews
Fairlove & Goodman provides legal services in Berrinba, QLD. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Wills & Estates and Probate & Estate Administration.
Family Law+7 moreWills & Estates · Probate & Estate Administration · Business & Commercial Law · Divorce & Separation · Binding Financial Agreements · Planning & Environment · Estate Planning & Testamentary TrustsFree first consult
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.
