Best Law Firms Australia

Best Law Firms in Melbourne

Updated 22 September 2026

Law firms in Melbourne act in matters heard at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, the County Court and Supreme Court of Victoria, VCAT and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, most of them within a few blocks of William Street. Compare firms below by practice area, then check which court or tribunal will hear your matter before the first appointment.

The practice area decides the venue. A criminal charge starts in the Magistrates' Court, a separation goes to the federal family courts, and a dispute with an owners corporation usually goes to VCAT. The grid ranks firms for each area, including Criminal Lawyers in Melbourne, Family Lawyers in Melbourne and Conveyancers in Melbourne.

Law firms in Melbourne by practice area

Conveyancers

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  1. 1First Class Legal★★★★★ 4.9 (641)
  2. 2AB Morison Conveyancing★★★★★ 4.9 (637)
  3. 3Livable Conveyancing Pty Ltd★★★★★ 5.0 (112)

Family Lawyers

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  1. 1Unite Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (135)
  2. 2Seitz & Pepper Family Lawyers Melbourne★★★★★ 5.0 (128)
  3. 3Aston Legal Group★★★★★ 4.9 (354)

Immigration Lawyers

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  1. 1FourSquare Migration★★★★★ 5.0 (496)
  2. 2Australian Migration Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (480)
  3. 3Hannan Tew Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (381)

Notaries Public

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  1. 1John Pearce Solicitor & Notary Public Melbourne★★★★★ 5.0 (381)
  2. 2Peter Macmillan & Associates, Solicitors & Notaries★★★★★ 5.0 (188)
  3. 3ProActive Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (136)

Criminal Lawyers

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  1. 1Markotich Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (284)
  2. 2Josh Smith Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (250)
  3. 3Hofman Carroll Criminal Law★★★★★ 5.0 (214)

Employment Lawyers

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  1. 1Kelly Workplace Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (128)
  2. 2Rankin Business Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (125)
  3. 3Nevett Ford Lawyers Melbourne★★★★★ 4.9 (461)

Property Lawyers

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  1. 1Roberts Gray Lawyers★★★★★ 5.0 (297)
  2. 2Unite Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (135)
  3. 3Barrett + Co Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (105)

Personal Injury Lawyers

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  1. 1Burn City Legal★★★★★ 5.0 (97)
  2. 2Longton Compensation Lawyers | Melbourne★★★★★ 5.0 (96)
  3. 3Saundh, Singh & Smith Lawyers★★★★★ 4.9 (226)

Which courts and tribunals are in Melbourne?

Melbourne has every level of the Victorian court system and the main Victorian registries of the federal courts.

Court or tribunal What it hears Where in Melbourne
Magistrates' Court of Victoria Summary offences, most traffic and drink driving charges, civil claims up to $100,000, intervention orders Melbourne Magistrates' Court, 233 William Street
County Court of Victoria Serious indictable offences, larger civil claims, the Serious Injury Applications, Medical and WorkCover lists 250 William Street
Supreme Court of Victoria The most serious crimes, such as murder, major civil claims, probate Melbourne CBD
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Divorce, parenting and property cases Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street
VCAT Co-ownership, owners corporation, lease and planning disputes Statewide tribunal

The Melbourne Magistrates' Court also runs the Bail and Remand Court, which sits from 8.30 am to 9 pm every day, as well as a Drug Court, the Koori Court and the Assessment and Referral Court. Retail lease disputes must go to the Victorian Small Business Commission before VCAT can award damages, under section 87 of the Retail Leases Act 2003 (Vic).

Which Melbourne court will hear my matter?

  • Criminal charge: Magistrates' Court first; serious indictable charges are committed to the County Court.
  • Separation, children or property after a relationship: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
  • Injury claim over $100,000: County Court, which has no upper limit for personal injury claims.
  • Owners corporation or co-owner dispute: VCAT.
  • Drink driving: Magistrates' Court; see Traffic & Drink Driving Lawyers in Melbourne.

Firms in the south-east often appear at the Dandenong Magistrates' Court and the Federal Circuit and Family Court registry in Dandenong; see Law Firms in Dandenong.

Where can you get free legal help in Melbourne?

Free help in Melbourne comes from Victoria Legal Aid, community legal centres and court-based duty lawyers.

  1. Victoria Legal Aid has its main office in Melbourne. Its Legal Help line, 1300 792 387, runs from 8 am to 6 pm on weekdays, and Legal Help Chat is available online.
  2. Duty lawyers from Victoria Legal Aid work at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for people facing criminal and traffic charges, and at a duty lawyer office inside the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building for family law matters.
  3. Fitzroy Legal Service, Victoria's first community legal centre, gives free legal advice from Fitzroy Town Hall, 201 Napier Street, Fitzroy.
  4. The Victorian Small Business Commission offers low-cost mediation for small business and retail lease disputes.

Eligibility for a grant of legal aid depends on income, assets and the type of matter. Our guide to Free Legal Advice in Australia explains what each service covers.

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Frequently asked questions

Which court hears a civil claim in Melbourne?

The Magistrates' Court of Victoria hears civil claims up to $100,000. Larger claims go to the County Court at 250 William Street or the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Where are family law cases heard in Melbourne?

Divorce, parenting and property cases are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia at the Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building, 305 William Street. Family violence intervention orders are a separate state process in the Magistrates' Court.

Do Melbourne property disputes go to court or VCAT?

Most go to VCAT, including co-ownership disputes under Part IV of the Property Law Act 1958 (Vic), owners corporation disputes and planning appeals. Larger contract and property claims are heard in the County Court or Supreme Court.

How do I get free legal advice in Melbourne?

Call Victoria Legal Aid's Legal Help line on 1300 792 387, weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm, or use its online Legal Help Chat. Community legal centres such as Fitzroy Legal Service also give free advice.