Melbourne CBD
Public law lawyers challenge government decisions and help with NDIS, Centrelink, discrimination, veterans' claims, education and health practitioner matters.
18 firms
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Augustine & Co. Immigration Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Partner & Family Visas and Skilled & Business Visas.
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.
A Melbourne CBD search can be useful for comparing teams with different specialisations. Ask who will do the work and who will supervise it, especially when a firm has several practice departments.
For government & public law, ask which parts of the work the firm handles itself and whether it has relevant VIC experience. Let the lawyer know if a property, employer, other party or existing proceeding is outside Melbourne CBD. 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.
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.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Nevile & Co. Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Saundh, Singh & Smith Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Business & Commercial Law and Corporate Law & M&A.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Slater and Gordon Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Motor Vehicle Accidents / CTP, Personal Injury and Class Actions.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Vstar Lawyers and Consultants provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Business & Commercial Law and Immigration & Visas.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Best Hooper Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Partner & Family Visas, Property & Conveyancing and Planning & Environment.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Grand Conveyancing provides conveyancing services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Administrative & Government Law and Commercial Property & Leasing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Forefront IT Executive Consulting provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Planning & Environment and Partner & Family Visas.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Parke Lawyers provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Wills & Estates and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
K & C Law Group provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Wills & Estates, Property & Conveyancing and Administrative & Government Law.
West Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Kindra Migration Lawyers (formerly WLW Migration Lawyers) provides legal services in West Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Business & Commercial Law and Partner & Family Visas.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Tolson & Co provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Personal Injury, Workers Compensation and Public Liability.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Allens provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Business & Commercial Law, Partner & Family Visas and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Barry Nilsson provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Family Law, Health & Medical Practitioner Law and Wills & Estates.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Norton Rose Fulbright provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property & Trade Marks and Partner & Family Visas.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Sodexo provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Health & Medical Practitioner Law, Partner & Family Visas and Property & Conveyancing.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Stephens Lawyers & Consultants provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Property & Conveyancing, Intellectual Property & Trade Marks and Litigation & Dispute Resolution.
Melbourne, VIC · Melbourne CBD
Venue Legal Consulting provides legal services in Melbourne, VIC. Listed practice areas include Immigration & Visas, Registered Migration Agent (non-lawyer) and Skilled & Business Visas.
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.