When it comes to anything legal, having a good lawyer on board can make all the difference, no matter the issue. Law is a complex, continuously changing field that can make a huge difference in people’s lives, making it almost impossible to navigate independently without years of training. Hiring a lawyer with experience and skill will drastically improve your chances of achieving the best possible outcome, but knowing which lawyer to choose can be challenging. Law is a competitive market, and your options are plentiful, but nowhere is it more important to be selective.
We hope to take some of that stress away in this article by compiling a list of some of the best solicitors and best lawyers in Canberra as of 2023, across the different areas of practice, from criminal law, property law and commercial law to the best wills and estate planning solicitors. We’ll also go over some of the most important metrics to take into consideration when looking for the best legal advice possible.
Top Solicitors & Criminal Lawyers in Canberra, ACT
Let’s start with some of the best criminal law firms based in Canberra. These law firms have an excellent reputation for helping Canberrans and providing quality legal advice to guide people through the criminal justice system. If you need a criminal lawyer and you’d like a more comprehensive list focusing on Canberra’s best local criminal defence lawyers, we have a more extensive article focusing on criminal lawyers.
Andrew Byrnes Law Group
Andrew Byrnes Law Group are some of the best criminal lawyers in Canberra, but they also have experience and expertise in a range of legal areas, including civil and commercial law, personal injury law and wills and estate planning. Their ethos is doing things “deliberately differently” than other Canberra law firms, reducing overhead costs and passing the savings down on to their clients, and using technology to be more efficient than traditional law firms. A few of their services are available online, including free case assessment of criminal law cases, will planning, nominating power of attorney and professionally written letters of demand. This allows their clients to save on both time and money.
You can find their head office in the Nishi Building in New Acton. Outside of the Canberra region, they also service Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Wollongong, Yass, Cooma and Wagga Wagga. Here’s a testimonial from one of their clients:
“I will always be thankful to Mr Byrnes for getting me out of a very tricky situation, and helping me through a tough time of my life. He is an honest, extremely competent and brilliant lawyer. I would recommend him to my closest friends.”
Kamy Saeedi Law
Kamy Saeedi Law is a team of lawyers specialising in all areas of ACT criminal law. If you’re looking for a criminal lawyer in Canberra, they’re some of the most experienced lawyers you’ll find. They also specialise in traffic and commercial law, but they have the expertise and team to help you get the best possible outcome in any field. Their slogan is that they don’t just practice law – they live it. This means they’ll take on cases both big and small and give them total effort. The first consultation is free, and they promise to deal wholly with the police, law courts and prosecutors on your behalf. They’re also available 24 hours a day to help you in a legal emergency, like a police interview. As they put it, they “work tirelessly, day and night, to get the best possible outcome for each and every case.”
You can find their office on University Avenue in New Acton. Here’s a testimonial from one of their clients:
“Cannot recommend this firm enough. I had a building contract dispute which looked like I was badly outgunned but Tom Barrington-Smith managed to achieve an amazing result for me with very little fuss. The result was better than I ever expected. Very happy.”
Baker Deane & Nutt
Baker Deane & Nutt is one of the oldest and most experienced law firms in Australia, with their first firm opening in Sydney in the early 1850s. They attribute their longevity and continued success to the expertise of our practitioners and their deep commitment to each client. They offer almost every kind of legal service you can think of, including criminal law. They have decades of experience defending clients in the Canberra community, facing every type of criminal offence. Their tagline is “Respected, Responsive and Experienced.”
They have two offices: one in Canberra on Farrell Place in the city centre and one near Canberra in Queanbeyan on Crawford Street. Here’s a testimonial from one of their clients:
“An absolute pleasure to deal with. From the start to the end there was never no problem too big. Their attention to detail and customer service are second to none. It is why from this being my first time dealing with Baker, Deane & Nutt I will continue to be an ongoing client.”
Best Divorce Lawyers & Family Lawyers in Canberra
If you’re looking for a family or divorce law specialist, you’re likely going through a difficult and stressful time. Finding the right lawyer can help take a lot of stress out of an already tough process, ensuring you get the best outcome possible for all parties involved without a lengthy battle. Luckily, Canberra is home to some of the best family law practices in Australia. Here’s some of those highly esteemed experts in family law to help you find the best result possible:
Parker Coles Curtis
Parker Coles Curtis is a boutique law firm dealing solely with family law matters in the heart of Canberra. They pride themselves on dealing with difficult separations and high-conflict disputes with understanding and compassion, delivering the best possible results for their clients with as little pain as possible. They describe themselves as “Supportive, straight-talking and skilled family law specialists.”
They can provide legal guidance to help you through some of the most challenging situations, from getting divorced, working out custody arrangements or seeking protection from family violence. They can also cater to and provide specialist advice to families of various diversities, including members of culturally and linguistically diverse families and LGBTIQ+ families. They also offer a service no other family law firm in Canberra does: what they call “loungeroom lawyer.” This service provides access to expert legal advice from solicitors after hours via video or phone conference with an experienced and understanding family law expert for a fixed fee of $550 for 45 minutes of legal advice.
You can find their office on Hobart Place in Canberra’s city centre. Here’s a review from one of their former clients:
“From our initial meeting I found Jacquelyn to be highly professional and displayed extensive knowledge of the legal process. She demonstrated her exceptional communication skills which greatly assisted me in the process of identifying what was important and how to achieve that. At all times she was a strong advocate for me and what I needed. Throughout the many challenges Jacquelyn consistently showed me respect, compassion and kindness.”
Farrar Gesini Dunn
Founded in Canberra in 1995, Farrer Gesini Dunn has over 25 years of family law experience. They have extensive expertise in all family legal matters and aim to handle them tactfully and with compassion. A feature unique to Farrar Gesini Dunn is their Family and Child Specialist, a professional with years of specialised training and experience in supporting children and families who are experiencing relationship challenges or are in the process of separating. The Family and Child Specialist works closely with clients at no extra cost to provide guidance, support and strategies to negate the harmful effects separations and divorces can have on the children involved.
Another feature unique to Farrar Gesini Dunn is their “Settle By Sunday” service. The concept is simple: a separating couple spend the weekend together with their prospective lawyers to hash out separation agreements, divide assets, and settle disputes by the end of the weekend through collaborative law and meditation. This aims to avoid having to go to court and prevent lengthy, painful, and expensive separations.
They have an office in Canberra on Rudd Street in the city centre and an office in Sydney and Melbourne. Here’s a review from one of their former clients:
“Addressing a Family Law issue can be a daunting prospect. However Nicholas from FGD was brilliant for the task. He was understanding and empathetic, highly professional, efficient and organised and motivated to achieve an excellent and mutually beneficial resolution. I can’t recommend him highly enough.”
Robinson + McGuinness
Robinson + McGuiness is one of the leading Canberra family law practices, capable of handling all legal needs related to divorce and family law. They guarantee that your “Your search for a “family lawyer near me” ends with us…We are the best family lawyers in and around Canberra, Yass, and Queanbeyan, and are ready to serve our local community in times of need.” Their team understand that every family and every situation is different, so pride themselves on taking a warm, personalised approach to cases instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. They’re also highly skilled alternative dispute resolution methods including mediation, conciliation and collaborative law – as well as court representation should it come to that.
Kevin Robinson, the founder of the law firm, has the accolades to back up their claim to being amongst the best law firms in Canberra. He’s been recognised as a Preeminent Family & Divorce Lawyer and Preeminent Leading Parenting, Custody & Children’s Matters Lawyer in the Australian Capital Territory for six consecutive years in a row in the prestigious Doyles Guide.
You can find their office in Canberra’s city centre, on Farrell Place. Here’s a review from on of their previous family law clients:
“These guys are fantastic to deal with, especially when you are feeling at your lowest and most vulnerable they show that there is light at the end of the tunnel by showing compassion as well as a very professional approach. Sally and Peta were wonderful and offered great cost effective options and advice. I would recommend Robinson + McGuiness Family Law to anyone who needs good and honest advice with family law legal support.”
Best Canberra Lawyers Specialising in Conveyancing and Property Law
Buying and selling properties are huge milestones in life, meaning it’s essential to ensure everything is done by the book and the process is as seamless as possible. Here’s a short list of the best solicitors in Canberra that can help with your property settlement, as well as transfers and conveyance:
Snedden Hall & Gallop
Snedden Hall & Gallop has some of the most experienced lawyers Canberra offers across all legal practice areas, including experienced property lawyers. They’ve been in business for over 60 years and aim to let every one of those years of experience show through in the outcomes they deliver to clients. They specialise in both residential and commercial property. Their team can help navigate all essential steps, from dealing with banks to contract advice, negotiations, and settlement. Professionalism and dedication are their motto, with “attention to detail and achieving genuine outcomes” at the core of their work.
They also have an exceptional team of some of the best personal injury lawyers, workers compensation lawyers and employment lawyers. You can find their office in Deakin, the inner south of Canberra. Here’s a review from one of the clients:
“Excellent lawful firm with professional helpful staff. The lawyers there have a great deal of experience which gives clients a great deal of confidence. I would personally highly recommend Snedden, Hall & Gallop.”
MV Law
MV Law is a younger law firm but is stacked with talent and some of the best professional lawyers. MV Law is known for offering some of the best conveyancing services in Canberra. In 2023, three of MV Law’s expert lawyers received accolades in Doyle’s Guide, three of which were in property law specifically.
They can provide advice on all commercial, retail, industrial and residential transactions to protect your best interests, with their property law services ranging from conveyancing to advice on state and territory taxes, contracts, residential tenancies, commercial property, or leasing. They’re also capable of working with big and small clients, from multi-million dollar property developments to private residences, investment properties, tenancies and commercial property matters.
You can find their office in Canberra City on Marcus Clarke Street. Here’s a review from one of their former property clients:
“My partner and I had the pleasure of dealing with Christina who assisted us with the sale of our existing property as well as the purchase of a new property. She ensured that we were well informed throughout the whole process and no ask was too big. Christina made what could be a daunting experience one to enjoy and one where we had a strong understanding of exactly what it was we were signing. Would use MV Law again!”
KJB Law
KJB Law has over 30 years of experience, and Doyles have recognised their team as the leading wills and estates litigation lawyers for the Canberra region. They also have corporate law expertise and some of the best bankruptcy lawyers and best commercial lawyers on their team. Their solicitors have also received praise for their residential conveyancing services, with a guarantee to help their clients every step of the way to purchasing property. They can also help you with conveyancing for vacant land or guide you through the process of buying off the plan or entering into a separate building contract. Entering into a mortgage is one of the most significant decisions you can make in life – and they help that as well, working with mortgage brokers in the planning stages for a loan application or pre-approval.
In 2019, their conveyancing manager, Karen Watt, won the title of best conveyancing lawyer of the year at the Real Estate Institute of ACT’s annual awards. She told Canberra Weekly this is thanks to her hands-on approach, clear communication, and dedication from step one of the conveyancing process to completion. KJB Law also won awards for Business of the Year 2021 and Best Professional Services 2021 at the ACT’s Local Business Awards.
You can find their office on Corinna Street in Woden, the south side hub of Canberra. Here’s a review from one of their previous clients:
“I recently used KJB Law for conveyancing. Just want to say how amazing David Trigg was. Great communication and made the process so easy and stress free. Would 100% use them again in the future. Can’t recommend them enough. Felt supported throughout the whole process.”
Canberra is Home to a Multitude of Great Law Firms
Navigating the complex legal landscape can be challenging, and finding lawyers you can trust to guide you through possibly life-altering situations is stressful. Luckily, Canberra’s status as the capital of Australia and its fantastic educational institutions have always made it a hub for talent and excellence, including in the legal profession. Having the right lawyer can make all the difference, and we hope that this list of the best lawyers and solicitors in Canberra, along with insights into their expertise and what makes them stand out, will help you make informed decisions when seeking legal guidance.