Who Are the Top-Rated Partner Visa Lawyers in Australia?

What do ratings tell me about a partner visa lawyer?

Ratings tell you how a group of past clients felt about the service, such as how quickly emails were answered and whether they felt informed. Ratings do not tell you whether the application was prepared correctly, whether the lawyer spotted a risk early, or how they performed when a case became difficult. A lawyer with a smaller number of reviews may still be well suited to a complex partner visa, and a lawyer with many reviews may mostly handle simple matters.

Why can a top rating be misleading for partner visas?

A top rating can be misleading for partner visas because most reviews are written soon after a grant, when the client is relieved and grateful. The clients whose cases involved a refusal, a request under section 56 or a natural justice letter under section 57 are less likely to leave a review at all. Reviews also rarely reflect what happened at the permanent stage, which is generally assessed about two years after lodgement. Our article on the partner visa two-stage process explains why the work continues after the first grant.

What should I look for instead of a top rating?

Instead of relying on a top rating, look for evidence that the lawyer understands the legal criteria that apply to your situation. Ask how they would present the four aspects of your relationship, how they would deal with any gap in living together, and what they would do if the Department asked for more information. Clear answers to those questions say more than a score. Our article on the partner visa four pillars of evidence explains what the Department looks at.

Do top-rated partner visa lawyers have better approval results?

A top rating does not mean better approval results, and no lawyer can publish a reliable approval rate for partner visas. Each application turns on its own facts, and a firm that takes on difficult cases may have a different pattern of outcomes from a firm that declines them. Claims about high success rates should be treated with caution, as our article on the partner visa success rate explains.

How do I compare two well-reviewed partner visa lawyers?

Two well-reviewed partner visa lawyers can be compared by the substance of their advice. Check that each holds a current practising certificate, ask who will actually do the work, ask for the scope and fee in writing, and compare how each explains your main risk. The lawyer who identifies the real issue in your case, rather than the one who reassures you most, is usually the better choice. Our article on partner visa lawyers covers the work involved.

How does My Migration Lawyers want to be judged on a partner visa?

My Migration Lawyers prefers to be judged on the quality of the advice a couple receives in their first consultation, not on a rating. The firm reviews the couple's relationship history, sponsor history and visa history, identifies the issues that could lead to refusal and explains what evidence would answer them. Work then proceeds on a fixed fee agreed in writing before it starts, under the supervision of Principal Lawyer Weiwei Zhang. Couples can see how our partner visa lawyers prepare an application, and those with an earlier refusal can read about our partner visa refusal work.