Where are the ACT courts in Canberra?

The ACT Supreme Court and ACT Magistrates Court are at the ACT Courts building, 4–6 Knowles Place, Canberra City.

Where is the family law court in Canberra?

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia sits in Canberra and hears divorce, parenting and property matters. Its general federal law list sits at the Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts, on the corner of University Avenue and Childers Street.

Do Queanbeyan matters go to the Canberra courts?

Not for state matters. Queanbeyan is in NSW, and its Local and District Court is at 2 Farrer Place, Queanbeyan. Family law is federal, so the location of the FCFCOA registry is a separate question.

How do I get free legal help in Canberra?

Call the Legal Aid ACT Helpline on 1300 654 314. A paralegal gives legal information and can book an appointment with a Legal Aid lawyer.

No. The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal is a tribunal. It deals with matters such as tenancy disputes, fence disputes and fair trading conciliation agreements, and Legal Aid ACT runs a tenancy duty lawyer service there.

Best Law Firms in Canberra, ACT (2026): By Practice Area

Law firms in Canberra act in matters heard at the ACT Supreme Court and ACT Magistrates Court at 4–6 Knowles Place, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) in Canberra and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT). Canberra matters run under ACT law, not NSW law, so choose a firm that practises regularly in the ACT.

Start with your practice area, then compare firms that appear in the court or tribunal for your matter. Ask for a written costs estimate and who will handle the file. If your matter is in Queanbeyan or elsewhere in NSW, it will be heard in a NSW court.

Law firms in Canberra by practice area

Family Lawyers

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1Ammitoj Singh Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (174)
2BDN Lawyers★★★★★ 4.9 (177)
3TranQuill Legal★★★★★ 4.9 (119)

Conveyancers

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1Ammitoj Singh Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (174)
2BDN Lawyers★★★★★ 4.9 (177)
3NatLaw★★★★★ 4.9 (153)

Criminal Lawyers

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1NBC LAW PTY LTD★★★★★ 5.0 (172)
2CODA Criminal Law★★★★★ 5.0 (91)
3Andrew Byrnes Law Group★★★★★ 4.9 (190)

Immigration Lawyers

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1AusDream Migration & Education★★★★★ 5.0 (353)
2Aussizz Migration Agents & Education Consultants - Canberra★★★★★ 5.0 (351)
3NBC LAW PTY LTD★★★★★ 5.0 (172)

Personal Injury Lawyers

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1Ammitoj Singh Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (174)
2NBC LAW PTY LTD★★★★★ 5.0 (172)
3Andrew Byrnes Law Group★★★★★ 4.9 (190)

Which courts and tribunals are in Canberra?

Canberra has the ACT's own courts and tribunal, plus federal courts.

Court or tribunal	What it hears	Location
ACT Supreme Court	Serious criminal trials, large civil claims, appeals, probate	ACT Courts, 4–6 Knowles Place, Canberra City
ACT Magistrates Court	Most criminal and traffic matters, family violence orders, personal protection orders, smaller civil claims	ACT Courts, 4–6 Knowles Place, Canberra City
ACT Children's Court	Criminal matters for young people, care and protection	Canberra
ACT Coroner's Court	Coronial inquests	Canberra
FCFCOA	Divorce, parenting orders, property settlement, general federal law	Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts, cnr University Avenue and Childers Street (general federal law list)
ACAT	Tenancy, fence disputes, fair trading agreements, other civil and administrative matters	Canberra

The ACT Supreme Court also runs a Drug and Alcohol Sentencing List.

Where can you get free legal help in Canberra?

Free legal help in Canberra is available from Legal Aid ACT and Canberra Community Law, both in Canberra City.

Legal Aid ACT. Main office at 2 Allsop Street, Canberra City. The Helpline, 1300 654 314, is open 8:30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.
Legal Aid ACT duty lawyers. Free, with no appointment, at the ACT Magistrates Court (criminal matters, family violence orders and personal protection orders), the ACT Children's Court, the FCFCOA (family law) and ACAT (tenancy).
Youth Law Centre. Legal Aid ACT's free, confidential service for people under 25.
Canberra Community Law. Level 5, 10 Rudd Street, Canberra City. Formerly the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre, it helps with housing, social security and disability law, and runs the Street Law service.

Free services have eligibility rules. For how each option works, see Free Legal Advice in Australia. To compare paid help, see Family Lawyers in Canberra, Criminal Lawyers in Canberra, Immigration Lawyers in Canberra and Personal Injury Lawyers in Canberra.