Employment
This may include problems with unpaid wages, working conditions, disciplinary action, or dismissal.
When we may be able to help
- You are a not for profit with an employment law matter
- You have a general protections claim; and it has already been dealt with by the Fair Work Commission and is now in the Federal Courts
- You have a claim for unpaid entitlements in the Federal Courts, or you believe you’ve been underpaid by a current or former employer
- You have not been dismissed from your role and wish to pursue a general protections claim in the Federal Courts
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Pro Bono Connect and Federal Courts services, and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- You want general employment advice
- You are a company or business with an employment matter
- You have an unfair dismissal claim (except where you are seeking a judicial review of a decision of the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission)
- Your general protections matter is still at the Fair Work Commission stage.
If this is your situation, see below for resources and other places that may be able help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
- Employment – Queensland Law Handbook Online
- Work and Life – Queensland Law Handbook Online
- Employment law and your rights – Legal Aid Queensland
Other places that may be able to help
If you are a union member, you should check if your union can provide you with legal assistance.
Fair Work and Employment
The Federal Courts deal with Fair Work and employment matters that are workplace disputes under federal law.
LawRight provides assistance with some employment matters at the Federal Courts through our Court and Tribunal services.
When we may be able to help
- You have a general protections claim; and it has already been dealt with by the Fair Work Commission and is now in the Federal Courts
- You have a claim for unpaid entitlements in the Federal Courts, or you believe you’ve been underpaid by a current or former employer
- You have not been dismissed from your role and wish to pursue a general protections claim in the Federal Courts
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- You want general employment advice
- Your have an unfair dismissal claim (except where you are seeking a judicial review of a decision of the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission)
- Your general protections matter is still at the Fair Work Commission stage
If this is your situation, see below for resources and other places that may be able help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
- Employment – Queensland Law Handbook Online
- Work and Life – Queensland Law Handbook Online
- Employment law and your rights – Legal Aid Queensland
Other places that may be able to help
If you are a union member, you should check if your union can provide you with legal assistance.
Other Federal Courts matter
There are some Federal Courts matters that LawRight does not have expertise or capacity to assist with.
When we can’t help
- You have a criminal law matter
- You have a family law matter
- You have a native title matter
More resources
LawRight has free information and self-help resources on a range of civil law issues. You can access these here.
Other places that may be able to help
Your local community legal centre may be able to give you some advice. To find your nearest community legal centre, you can use Community Legal Centres Queensland’s Find a CLC feature.
You can also find a list of Legal problems Legal Aid can help with here.
To find a private lawyer, you can use Queensland Legal Service’s You and the Law directory.
Appeals - Federal Courts
Federal appeals are when a higher federal court checks whether an earlier federal decision had a legal error.
When we may be able to help
- You are appealing a matter in an area of law that we assist with.
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- Your appeal is outside of the scope of our area of assistance.
If this is your situation, see below for resources and other places that may be able help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
Other places that may be able to help
- To find a private lawyer, you can use Queensland Legal Service’s You and the Law directory.
Competition & Consumer - Federal Courts
Competition and consumer cases are about misleading conduct, unfair practices or other issues under federal law.
When we may be able to help
- You have a complaint that the Federal Courts has jurisdiction to hear under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 or National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009.
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
- Basic consumer rights – Legal Aid Queensland
- Understand the complaint process – qld.gov.au
- Consumer law: Overview | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Other places that may be able to help
Your local community legal centre may be able to help you. You should visit Find a CLC to find the service closest to you.
Bankruptcy - Federal Courts
Bankruptcy is a process for people who cannot pay their debts, under which control of their assets and finances is transferred to a trustee, in return for protection from legal action by creditors and relief from certain debts.
When we may be able to help
- You have bankruptcy proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court or Federal Court (and are the person who is being made bankrupt).
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- You are a creditor wanting to commence proceedings against someone.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
- Bankruptcy guide: introduction
- Bankruptcy Information Sheet 3: Opposing a creditor’s petition
- Bankruptcy Information Sheet 6: Consequences of a sequestration order
- Australian Financial Security Authority
- Consequences of bankruptcy | Australian Financial Security Authority
Other places that may be able to help
If you are in south-east Queensland, you may be able to contact My Community Legal or Suncoast Community Legal Service for assistance.
You may be also able to get free help from a financial counsellor to understand your options and manage debt problems on the National Debt Helpline.
Discrimination - Federal Courts
Federal discrimination law covers complaints under Commonwealth law that usually start at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and may then go to a federal court.
When we may be able to help
- Your matter has finished at the AHRC and is now in the Federal Court
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- You want to make a new AHRC complaint
- Your complaint is still at the AHRC stage
If this is your situation, see below for resources and other places that may be able help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
Other places that may be able to help
Your local community legal centre may be able to give you some advice. To find your nearest community legal centre, you can use Community Legal Centres Queensland’s Find a CLC feature.
To find a private lawyer, you can use Queensland Legal Service’s You and the Law directory.
Freedom of Information or Information Privacy - Federal Courts
Freedom of Information (FOI) and Information Privacy at the federal level are about accessing or correcting Commonwealth government documents and challenging those decisions in court.
When we may be able to help
- You want to appeal against a decision of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) on the external review. This can only be done on a question of law.
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- You are making a Freedom of Information (FOI) application
- You are internally reviewing a Freedom of Information (FOI) decision
- You are applying for corrections to your information
- You have a matter at the OAIC
- You have a matter that is currently under review at the Administrative Review Tribunal
If this is your situation, see below for resources and other places that may be able help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
- Right to Information and Freedom of Information – Queensland Law Handbook Online
- Access-to-Information-in-Queensland.pdf
Other places that may be able to help
Your local community legal centre may be able to give you some advice. To find your nearest community legal centre, you can use Community Legal Centres Queensland’s Find a CLC feature.
Judicial Review - Federal Court
Judicial review in Federal Courts is asking the Federal Court or the Federal Circuit and Family Court to check if a Commonwealth decision was made lawfully.
When we may be able to help
- You have a judicial review matter, or want to commence judicial review proceedings; and
- If your review is for a migration matter, it is about either;
- a protection visas decision (visa subclass 866, 785 or 790); or
- certain visa cancellations.
If this is your situation, click here to read more about our Court and Tribunal services and how they may be able to help.
When we can’t help
- You want to review of a migration decision not listed above, for example;
- a skilled or work visa
- a student visa
- a partner or family visa
- a bridging visa decision
If this is your situation, see below for resources and other places that may be able help.
More resources
Please see the following for further information:
- Administrative law: Administrative decisions | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
- Review of Migration Decisions by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
- Administrative and Constitutional Law and Human Rights National Practice Area (NPA) – Home page
- Legal Information | Refugee and Immigration Legal Service
Other places that may be able to help
Tenancy
This may include disputes about bonds, notices, repairs, rent, or evictions.
When we can’t help
Our Pro Bono Connect and Court and Tribunal Services do not assist with tenancy matters.
Please see below for resources and other places that may be able to help.
Other places that may be able to help
QSTARS is a free independent advice and referral service for all Queensland renters. You can contact them on 1300 744 263.
Your local community legal centre may be able to give you some advice. To find your nearest community legal centre, you can use Community Legal Centres Queensland’s Find a CLC feature.