National directory
Find a solicitor in Australia
Solicitors.net.au is a national platform being developed to help Australians connect with qualified solicitors in every state and territory. Whether you need help with a property purchase, a family law matter, a business contract or a dispute, the right solicitor makes the process clearer, faster and far less stressful. This page explains the role of a solicitor in Australia, the way the future Solicitors.net.au directory will work, and the kinds of matters Australian solicitors most often handle.
What a solicitor does
A solicitor is a qualified legal professional who advises clients on their rights and obligations, prepares legal documents, manages transactions and represents clients in negotiations and most court proceedings. For most Australians, a solicitor is the first — and often only — legal professional they need to engage.
Solicitors work across an enormous range of matters, from the everyday (a property purchase, a will, a small business contract) to the complex (commercial litigation, family law disputes, regulatory investigations). Where a matter requires specialist courtroom advocacy or a considered second opinion, the solicitor will brief a barrister and manage that engagement on the client's behalf — see our explainer on the difference between a solicitor and a barrister for more.
Every practising solicitor in Australia must be admitted by a Supreme Court, hold a current practising certificate and carry professional indemnity insurance. These requirements exist to protect clients and are part of what gives the profession its standing.
The legal landscape across Australia
Australia has a federal legal system in which Commonwealth, state and territory laws operate side by side. Most everyday legal matters — buying a home, writing a will, starting a small business, separating from a partner — are governed primarily by the law of the state or territory where you live. Other matters, including family law, migration, bankruptcy and most corporate regulation, are governed by federal law and heard in federal courts.
Australian solicitors are admitted by a state or territory Supreme Court and hold a current practising certificate issued by their local regulator. Once admitted, a solicitor can practise nationally, but most build a deep familiarity with the courts, registries and customs of the jurisdiction in which they work. That local knowledge matters: a Brisbane conveyancing transaction looks very different from one in Melbourne, and an employment dispute in Perth follows different timelines than one in Sydney.
Solicitors.net.au is designed to reflect this reality. The directory will let you search by location and area of law, see verified credentials, and read clear information about each firm before you make contact — so the first call you make is the right one.
How the Solicitors.net.au directory will work
Solicitors.net.au is being developed as a trusted national directory of Australian solicitors. The directory will let you search by location, area of law and the kind of help you need — and see clear, verified information about each firm before you make contact.
For people looking for a solicitor, the directory will show practising certificate status, areas of practice, languages spoken, accessibility information and the firm's preferred ways of working with new clients. The goal is to make it easier to make the right first call — and to give Australian solicitors a high-quality, profession-led place to be found.
We're also building a growing library of plain-English insights to help Australians understand how the legal system works, when to seek advice, and what to expect when they do. Together, the directory and insights are designed to be a national legal reference Australians can rely on for years to come.
Common areas of Australian practice
Australian solicitors cover an extensive range of practice areas. The most common include:
Property and conveyancing
Buying, selling, leasing and developing residential and commercial property — including contract review, due diligence and settlement.
Wills, estates and probate
Preparing wills, enduring powers of attorney and advance care directives, administering deceased estates and resolving estate disputes.
Family law
Separation, divorce, parenting arrangements, child support and the division of property between former partners.
Commercial and small business
Business structures, shareholder and partnership agreements, commercial contracts, sale and purchase of business and franchising.
Employment and workplace
Employment contracts, workplace policies, unfair dismissal, discrimination claims and restraint-of-trade disputes.
Criminal and traffic
Representation for criminal charges, traffic and drink-driving matters, court appearances and police interviews.
Personal injury and compensation
Workers compensation, motor accident claims, public liability and medical negligence — typically on a no-win-no-fee basis.
Litigation and dispute resolution
Commercial disputes, debt recovery, building and construction claims, and alternative dispute resolution.
Before you engage a solicitor
A little preparation makes the first conversation with a solicitor far more productive. Our insights cover the practical questions Australians ask most often — how to choose a solicitor, how legal costs work, and what to bring to your first meeting. Each is written in plain English and free to read.
Solicitors by city
Browse our city guides for a closer look at each local legal market.