What type of lawyer do I need?
Compare common Australian legal practice areas and identify which type of lawyer may be relevant to your situation.
Read this guideClear Australian legal information
Legal Help Centre
Practical guides to identifying a possible legal area, choosing a lawyer, preparing for a first conversation and understanding how MatterPath handles your information.
Getting started
1 guidesChoosing and preparing for a lawyer
2 guidesHow to choose a lawyer
A practical checklist for comparing Australian lawyers by experience, fees, communication, location and availability.
Read this guideWhat to prepare before speaking to a lawyer
Prepare your timeline, documents, questions and goals before your first conversation with an Australian lawyer.
Read this guideFees and legal-help options
2 guidesHow lawyer fees work in Australia
Understand common lawyer fee structures, cost disclosures, GST and disbursements before engaging a law firm.
Read this guideLegal Aid, a community legal centre or a private lawyer?
Compare Legal Aid, community legal centres and private law firms, including common eligibility and service differences.
Read this guideBrowse by legal area
8 guidesFinding help with a family law matter
Learn what family lawyers commonly assist with, what to prepare and when urgent legal help may be needed.
Read this guideFinding help with an employment law matter
Understand when an employment lawyer may help employees or employers and what documents to prepare.
Read this guideWhen to speak to a business or commercial lawyer
Learn when a business or commercial lawyer may assist with contracts, disputes, debt, ownership and transactions.
Read this guideFinding help with wills and estates
Understand when to speak to a wills and estates lawyer about planning, probate, administration or estate disputes.
Read this guideFinding help with property and conveyancing
Learn when a property or conveyancing lawyer may assist with purchases, sales, leases, ownership and disputes.
Read this guideFinding help with a criminal law matter
Understand when to seek direct criminal-law help in Australia, what a criminal lawyer may do and what information to prepare.
Read this guideFinding help with an immigration law matter
Understand Australian visa, citizenship and review pathways, who may provide immigration assistance and what to prepare.
Read this guideFinding help with a personal injury or compensation matter
Understand Australian injury and compensation pathways, what to prepare and how MatterPath's fixed advertising model works.
Read this guidePrivacy and how MatterPath works
2 guidesHow MatterPath works
See how MatterPath helps you describe your legal matter, review participating law firms and choose who may receive your information.
Read this guideHow MatterPath handles sensitive legal information
A plain-English explanation of MatterPath information collection, matching, disclosure consent, providers and privacy choices.
Read this guideKnow what happens to your information.
Read the full Privacy Notice, Consumer Terms and a plain-language explanation of the MatterPath process before you begin.
Organise your next step
Describe your matter in a guided assessment.
Review your factual summary and decide which participating law firm, if any, may receive your information.