Lawyers in Brisbane
Brisbane’s courts sit in one city block. Knowing which building your matter is in, and what happens when you get there, is the practical part nobody explains.
Terra Australis Legal acts for clients across Brisbane in criminal, family, domestic violence, employment, commercial and litigation matters, from our base at Kenmore in the western suburbs. Brisbane’s courts are concentrated in a single precinct: the Magistrates Court at 363 George Street, the Supreme and District Courts in the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law at 415 George Street, and the family law registry on North Quay.
The Brisbane court precinct
Brisbane’s courts occupy a single city block bounded by George, Roma and Turbot Streets, which is convenient once you know it and confusing the first time. The Magistrates Court is at 363 George Street. Immediately adjacent, the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law at 415 George Street house the Supreme Court and the District Court of Queensland.
Family law is a different jurisdiction and a different building. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia sits at the Commonwealth Law Courts on North Quay, a short walk away. A separating couple with both a protection order application and a parenting dispute will therefore have matters running in two court systems, in two buildings, under two different Acts — which is exactly why they should be handled together rather than by two firms.
Almost every matter that begins in Brisbane begins at the Magistrates Court. Criminal charges, traffic matters and domestic violence protection order applications all start there, and the more serious criminal charges are then committed to the District or Supreme Court next door. Our note on what to expect at court covers the practical side: security screening, the daily list, duty lawyers, and how to ask for an adjournment.
Which building, for which matter
Court buildings, registries and listing arrangements change. Confirm the location and time for your matter against the daily law list before attending. See sources 1 and 2.
Why a Kenmore firm appears in the city
We are based at Kenmore, west of the Brisbane CBD. Call 1300 165 767 to arrange a time and to confirm how and where we can meet.
What we do maintain is the appearance work. The courts our clients are in are the George Street courts, and a solicitor who is in them regularly knows the listing practices, how quickly matters are reached, and the practical rhythm of a mention day. That knowledge affects advice about timing — whether a matter is likely to be finalised on the first return date, or whether an adjournment is realistic.
It also affects cost, because for most of the matters we handle the client is paying for advocacy and advice rather than for an address.
The two deadlines Brisbane clients most often miss
Two time limits account for most of the matters we cannot help with, and both are short enough to expire while someone is deciding whether to get advice.
The first is employment. An unfair dismissal or general protections application must be lodged within twenty-one days of the dismissal taking effect. Extensions require exceptional circumstances and are frequently refused. If you were dismissed this week, the question to resolve now is eligibility, not fairness.
The second is family law property. An application must generally be brought within twelve months of a divorce order, or within two years of the end of a de facto relationship. The de facto deadline is the one most often missed, because there is no divorce order to mark the date. Both are covered on our time limits page.