How Do I Choose a Good Partner Visa Lawyer in Australia?

What qualifications should a partner visa lawyer have?

A partner visa lawyer should hold a current practising certificate issued by the legal profession regulator in their state or territory. The practising certificate means the lawyer is bound by professional conduct rules, must generally be covered by professional indemnity insurance and is subject to complaints and discipline by the legal profession bodies. Since 2021, Australian legal practitioners have not needed to register with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority to give immigration assistance. Our article on choosing Australian migration lawyers explains how to check these points.

Why does a migration focus matter when choosing a lawyer?

A migration focus matters because partner visa law sits in the Migration Act 1958, the Migration Regulations 1994 and detailed departmental policy that changes often. A lawyer who works in migration every day will recognise problems such as a condition 8503 No Further Stay, the section 48 bar or a sponsorship limitation under regulation 1.20J before the application is lodged. A general practice lawyer may not see these issues until a refusal arrives. Our page for partner visa lawyers describes the issues the firm checks at the start.

How do I know if a lawyer understands my particular case?

A lawyer who understands a particular case will ask detailed questions about the relationship history, both partners' visa histories and any earlier applications before giving advice. Good advice names the specific risk, such as a short relationship, separate finances or a previous refusal, and explains the evidence needed to meet it. A lawyer who promises a grant without asking those questions has not assessed the case. Our article on complex partner visa applications shows the kinds of facts that change the advice.

Should a partner visa lawyer agree the fee in writing?

A partner visa lawyer should agree the fee and the scope of work in writing before starting. A written costs agreement shows what is included, such as the first stage, the permanent stage, responses to Department requests or a Tribunal review, and what is not. Fixed fees make the total cost clear from the beginning, which is explained in our article on partner visa lawyer fees.

What if my partner visa is refused later?

A refused partner visa needs a lawyer who can act quickly on review, because the time to apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal is short and strictly applied. When choosing a lawyer, it is worth asking how they handle refusals and Tribunal hearings, and whether they can assess a new application as an alternative. Our article on partner visa appeal versus reapplication explains how that choice is made, and the firm's partner visa refusals page describes its review work.

How does My Migration Lawyers measure up against these criteria?

My Migration Lawyers is an Australian law firm led by Principal Lawyer Weiwei Zhang, and its practice centres on migration law, including partner visas from the first stage through to refusals and review. The firm sets out its advice, its fixed fee and the scope of work in writing before acting, and it tells couples plainly where their case is weak. Readers can use the criteria on this page to compare the firm with any other lawyer they are considering.