Independent law firm · Canberra City
Clear legal advice, directly across from the ACT Law Courts.
Burley Walsh is a team of six lawyers helping Canberra people and businesses with family, criminal, estates, property, employment and commercial matters. We explain where you stand in plain English, and we talk about fees before we start.
Free 15-minute phone chat · 02 5550 4170
Our firm
A smaller firm, by choice.
We founded Burley Walsh in 2009 on a simple idea: people cope better with a legal problem when they understand it, and when the lawyer they first meet is the one who runs their matter.
From our office on Knowles Place we can be in court in two minutes. Most of our work, though, happens well before anyone sees a courtroom: careful advice, sensible negotiation and documents that do what they're meant to.
Practice areas
How we can help
We keep our practice focused on six areas, so the lawyer advising you does this kind of work every week.
Family law
Separation, parenting arrangements and property settlement, with a preference for agreement over argument.
Family law 02Criminal and traffic law
Bail, charges, drink driving and licence matters, with representation in the courts across the road.
Criminal and traffic 03Wills, estates and elder law
Wills, enduring powers of attorney, probate and the legal side of planning for later life.
Wills and estates 04Property and conveyancing
Buying, selling and transferring property under the ACT's leasehold system, from contract to settlement.
Property 05Employment and workplace
Advice for employees and employers, including Australian Public Service Code of Conduct matters.
Employment 06Business and disputes
Contracts, leases and business sales, and resolving disputes in ACAT and the courts when they arise.
Business and disputes
Why clients choose us
What you can expect from us
- 01
Across the road from the courts
Our office faces the ACT Magistrates Court and Supreme Court, so we can meet you before an appearance and be there with you on the day.
- 02
Plain English, in writing
After a first meeting you'll receive a short letter setting out where you stand, your options and what happens next.
- 03
Fees discussed first
Fixed fees where the work is predictable, written estimates where it isn't, and no surprises on your bill.
- 04
The same lawyer throughout
The person you meet first is the person who runs your matter, supported by a small team who know your file.
Our people
The people you'll work with
Six lawyers who know Canberra, its courts and its institutions, and who work closely together when a matter crosses more than one area of law.
Insights
Plain-English guides
Short, practical notes on questions Canberra clients often ask us, written to help you prepare.
Separated? Five things to sort out in the first month
The early weeks after separation set the tone for everything that follows. A few practical steps make the rest far easier.
Read the key pointsSelling in the ACT: the documents you need before you list
ACT sellers must have a contract and required documents ready before marketing starts. Here's what that involves.
Read the key pointsFacing an APS Code of Conduct investigation: what to do first
Receiving a notice of suspected misconduct is unsettling. Knowing how the process works helps you respond well.
Read the key pointsNot sure if you need a lawyer? Start with a free 15-minute call.
Tell us briefly what's happening. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help, who in the team is best placed, and what a first meeting would cost.