Southern Sydney
Public law lawyers challenge government decisions and help with NDIS, Centrelink, discrimination, veterans' claims, education and health practitioner matters.
9 firms
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
Willis & Bowring provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Wills & Estates and Estate Planning & Testamentary Trusts.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Lyons Law Group provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Criminal Law, Traffic Offences and Assault & Violent Offences.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Gateway Law & Migration Australia Pty Ltd provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Citizenship.
Sutherland, NSW · Southern Sydney
Legal Aid NSW provides legal services in Sutherland, NSW. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Domestic Violence & AVOs and Partner & Family Visas.
Hurstville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Access Legal Solicitors provides legal services in Hurstville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Domestic Violence & AVOs, Building & Construction and Residential Tenancy.
Miranda, NSW · Southern Sydney
Solari & Stock Lawyers provides legal services in Miranda, NSW. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Family Law and Wills & Estates.
Penshurst, NSW · Southern Sydney
Duncan & MacKenzie Solicitors provides legal services in Penshurst, NSW. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Education Law.
Bankstown, NSW · Southern Sydney
Attia Lawyers & Consultants provides legal services in Bankstown, NSW. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Immigration & Visas.
Marrickville, NSW · Southern Sydney
Khoury Lawyers Pty Ltd provides legal services in Marrickville, NSW. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Building & Construction and Strata & Body Corporate.
When a government agency makes a decision about you, there is usually a way to have it reviewed. Public law lawyers advise on internal review, tribunal appeals and, where the law has been misapplied, judicial review in the courts. They also act in discrimination and human rights complaints, NDIS and Centrelink appeals, veterans' entitlements, mental health and guardianship hearings, and disciplinary matters for doctors, nurses and other registered professionals.
Government decisions affect benefits, licences and rights. Many can be reviewed or challenged.
Review pathways include internal review, the Administrative Review Tribunal, state tribunals, ombudsmen and judicial review in the courts.
Understand the next step
Identify the government decision, the agency and the result sought. A service complaint, merits review and court challenge are different processes. The right pathway depends on the actual decision rather than a general disagreement with an agency.
Southern Sydney includes several distinct local centres. A residential conveyance, small-business lease and family property settlement can each need different expertise even when all involve the same home or premises.
For government & public law, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant NSW experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Southern Sydney. Your home address alone does not determine the applicable process.
Keep the complete notice, reasons and review information. Record when and how the decision was received.
Ask whether internal review, a tribunal, complaint or court process is available. The Administrative Review Tribunal reviews specified Commonwealth decisions, not every government matter.
Identify evidence relevant to the disputed findings and ask how the agency file can be obtained. Clarify the result the reviewer can provide.
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.
Give the decision and receipt dates immediately. A general complaint may not preserve an opportunity to seek formal review.
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
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.
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.
It's strongly recommended. Your response to the first notice can shape the whole process, and many professional indemnity insurers cover the cost of a lawyer.