The questions clients ask first.

No. The initial conversation is free and without obligation. Its purpose is to establish what has happened, whether you need a lawyer, how urgent it is, and whether we are the right firm for it. If you are not, we will say so.

Yes. Your matter is run by an admitted solicitor from first call to final invoice. Where a matter warrants a barrister — an indictable trial or a substantial commercial hearing — we brief counsel, but we remain on the record and remain your point of contact.

We are based in Brisbane and most of our criminal and domestic violence work is in Queensland courts, because that jurisdiction is state-based. Family law and employment law are federal, so we act for clients across Australia in those areas. Civil and commercial disputes depend on where the proceeding is on foot — call and we will tell you straight away whether we can act.

Our postal address is PO Box 386, Kenmore QLD 4069. Call 1300 165 767 to arrange a meeting place and time.

Before we begin, you receive a written costs agreement and costs disclosure notice. It sets out the scope of the work, our rates, likely disbursements and an estimate of total costs. Nothing chargeable starts before you have signed it.

Where the work is discrete and predictable — a plea in the Magistrates Court, a consent order application, a contract or deed review — a fixed fee is usually the fairer arrangement and we will offer one. Contested matters are harder to fix, because the other side's conduct drives the cost; there we quote stage by stage.

You hear about it before the work is done. We will explain what has changed, what the revised estimate is, and what your options are — including doing less. You will not find out from an invoice.

Sometimes, partly. In civil proceedings a successful party is often awarded costs, but a costs order rarely covers the full amount actually paid, and it is only as good as the other side's ability to pay it. In family law, each party generally bears their own costs. We will give you a realistic view of this at the outset rather than at the end.

Get legal advice before you decide. In Queensland you generally have a right to silence, and other than in limited situations you are not obliged to answer questions. What you say in an interview is evidence and cannot be taken back. Call us before you attend.

Not necessarily. In Queensland a court has a discretion in many cases as to whether a conviction is recorded, having regard to the nature of the offence, your character and age, and the impact on your economic or social wellbeing — including your employment. Whether that discretion is available and how it is exercised depends on the offence and the court. Making that submission properly is a substantial part of what we do at sentence.

For some procedural mentions, yes — a solicitor can appear on your behalf. For sentence, trial and most contested hearings you will need to attend. We will tell you exactly which dates require you personally, well in advance.

No. There is no presumption of an equal split. The court identifies the asset pool, assesses each party's contributions (financial and non-financial), considers future needs such as care of children and earning capacity, and then asks whether the proposed division is just and equitable. Outcomes vary widely on the facts.

For parenting matters you generally must attempt family dispute resolution and obtain a certificate before filing, with exceptions including urgency and family violence. There are also pre-action procedures for property matters. We will tell you which apply to you and whether an exception is available.

Sometimes consenting without admissions is a sensible, cost-effective outcome. Sometimes it is a decision people regret, because of the conditions attached and the effect on parenting arrangements, firearms licences and certain occupations. It is not a decision to make in a court corridor without advice.

Generally 21 days from the day the dismissal took effect. The same limit applies to a general protections dismissal application. Extensions are only granted in exceptional circumstances, so if you have been dismissed, do not wait to see how you feel about it in a month.

It depends. A restraint is only enforceable to the extent it protects a legitimate business interest and is reasonable in scope, duration and geography. Broad, boilerplate restraints frequently fail — but "frequently" is not "always", and the analysis is contract-specific. Send us the clause.

The first question is not whether you would win, it is whether you would recover. We look at the strength of the claim, the cost of the proceeding, and whether the debtor has assets worth enforcing against. Often a properly framed letter of demand achieves the result without filing anything.