Does the Supreme Court sit in Cairns?

Yes. The Supreme Court and District Court of Queensland share a registry on Level 3 of the Cairns courthouse, 5D Sheridan Street, so serious criminal trials and larger civil claims from Far North Queensland are heard locally.

Can I file family law papers in Cairns?

Yes. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has a full registry on Level 3 of the Commonwealth Government Centre, 94–104 Grafton Street, with courtrooms on Level 4. Filing can also be done online.

Where is Legal Aid in Cairns?

Legal Aid Queensland's Cairns office is on Level 7 of the Citi Central Building, 46–48 Sheridan Street, phone (07) 4252 6800.

How long do I have to give notice of an injury claim in Queensland?

A notice of claim must usually be given within 9 months of the incident, or 1 month after instructing a lawyer if earlier. Court proceedings must start within 3 years.

Best Law Firms in Cairns, QLD (2026): By Practice Area

Law firms in Cairns act in matters heard at the Cairns courthouse on Sheridan Street, which houses the Magistrates Court, District Court and Supreme Court of Queensland, and at the Federal Circuit and Family Court registry on Grafton Street. Compare firms below by practice area; most Far North Queensland matters can be run to a final hearing without leaving Cairns.

Cairns has both a Supreme Court registry and a full federal family law registry. The Magistrates Court also runs circuit courts to remote communities in the region. The grid ranks firms for each area, including Criminal Lawyers in Cairns, Family Lawyers in Cairns and Personal Injury Lawyers in Cairns.

Law firms in Cairns by practice area

Family Lawyers

Full ranking →

1Harding Property Law★★★★★ 5.0 (154)
2Keylaw Cairns - Conveyancing★★★★★ 4.9 (469)
3Travis Schultz & Partners★★★★★ 5.0 (68)

Criminal Lawyers

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1Travis Schultz & Partners★★★★★ 5.0 (68)
2Maurice Blackburn Personal Injury Lawyers Cairns★★★★★ 4.8 (212)
3Miller Harris Lawyers★★★★★ 4.8 (171)

Conveyancers

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1Impact Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (159)
2Harding Property Law★★★★★ 5.0 (154)
3Keylaw Cairns - Conveyancing★★★★★ 4.9 (469)

Personal Injury Lawyers

Full ranking →

1Travis Schultz & Partners★★★★★ 5.0 (68)
2Cairns Compensation Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (49)
3Maurice Blackburn Personal Injury Lawyers Cairns★★★★★ 4.8 (212)

Which courts and tribunals are in Cairns?

Cairns has all three levels of the Queensland courts and a federal family law registry.

Court	What it hears	Where in Cairns
Magistrates Court of Queensland	Simple offences, committals, civil claims up to $150,000, domestic violence protection orders, remote circuits	Ground floor, Cairns courthouse, 5D Sheridan Street
District Court of Queensland	Indictable matters committed for trial or sentence, larger civil claims	Level 3, 5D Sheridan Street
Supreme Court of Queensland	The most serious charges, the largest claims, probate	Level 3, 5D Sheridan Street
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia	Divorce, parenting and property cases for Far North Queensland	Level 3, Commonwealth Government Centre, 94–104 Grafton Street

The Supreme Court of Queensland keeps registries in Cairns, Rockhampton and Townsville as well as Brisbane. Domestic violence protection orders are a state process in the Magistrates Court, separate from the federal family law case.

Which Cairns court will hear my matter?

Criminal charge: Cairns Magistrates Court first; indictable matters are generally tried or sentenced at the same courthouse.
Injury claim: Magistrates Court up to $150,000, then District or Supreme Court. Most claims resolve in the pre-court stage without a hearing.
Separation: the Federal Circuit and Family Court registry on Grafton Street.
Home purchase: no court is involved; see Conveyancers in Cairns.

Where can you get free legal help in Cairns?

Cairns has a Legal Aid office and two free community-based legal services.

Legal Aid Queensland has an office on Level 7 of the Citi Central Building, 46–48 Sheridan Street, phone (07) 4252 6800, open weekdays from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. It gives criminal and family law advice and grants of aid to eligible people.
Cairns Community Legal Centre offers free legal help to people in Cairns.
LawRight has a Cairns office and connects eligible Queenslanders with free civil law help from pro bono lawyers.
The Legal Information Line, 1300 65 11 88, answers calls from anywhere in Queensland on weekdays.

Our guide to Free Legal Advice in Australia explains which service suits which problem.