It is usually not mandatory to have a lawyer represent you or provide you with legal advice. However, appointing a lawyer means you will have a knowledgeable advocate working in your best interests.

Just like you seek the help of a doctor to deal with a complex medical problem, a qualified and experienced lawyer will be able to help you understand your rights and responsibilities under the law and guide you through the process of making a claim or defending a matter brought against you.

Our legal expertise means that we know how to streamline the process, make it as fast and stress-free for you as possible, as well as maximise your chances of achieving the best outcome possible.

You should get legal advice as soon as a problem arises or you’re not sure what to do in a legal matter. This will ensure you don’t make mistakes that may adversely affect the outcome for you and to streamline the process as much as possible.

Even if the advice is that you don’t need a lawyer, you will have the peace of mind of having clarified that and know where to turn if your circumstances change in future.

Yes. Speaking plain English is one of the things that sets Stacks Law Firm apart. Our lawyers know the legal jargon but understand that it can be confusing for anyone unfamiliar with it.

We will always ensure you fully understand everything before you commit to a decision. If English is not your first language, we can bring in a dedicated translator to help.

Furthermore, because our lawyers have deep local knowledge and experience, we can tailor things to processes and places you are familiar with to enhance your understanding of complex matters.

Stacks Law Firm does not have any hidden fees. Our lawyers will let you know up front about all costs and time estimates, so you will always know what to expect.

Your overall costs will depend on:

• The area of law involved
• The complexity of your particular matter
• Whether your matter progresses to court
• Whether you decide to abandon your claim or change lawyers before a resolution is reached

In some instances, there may be no cost to you at all, such is if a court awards all costs to you, or if you have made a personal injury claim on a no win, no fee basis.

There are two parts to determining legal fees:

• Professional fees (that is, how much your lawyer is paid for their time working on your case).
• Disbursements – costs relating to your case, such as government charges and any travel expenses incurred. Our lawyers generally pay for these at the time and then recover them as part of their legal fees. 

Stacks Law Firm does not have any hidden fees. Our lawyers will let you know up front about all costs and time estimates, so you will always know what to expect.

This will depend on the nature of your legal advice.

For example, if you are making a personal injury claim, you generally won’t pay us anything from your own pocket. Our fees will be deducted from your compensation payout. In other matters, such as property conveyancing or relationship separations, your legal fees are generally due once a settlement has been reached. 

No matter what kind of legal advice or representation you require, your Stacks lawyer will be up-front about the costs involved and when these will be payable.

Yes, in certain cases, Stacks Law Firm offers a no-win no-fee arrangement, for example if you are making a personal injury claim.

We do not offer a no win, no fee arrangement in all areas of law. In areas like conveyancing, divorce, contract drafting or commercial legal advice, there isn’t a “win” as such, but rather an outcome which is reached and an agreed fee which we charge for our services.

Yes, we can represent you in court if necessary, such as in criminal matters or complex cases. We can also support you and your family at a coronial inquiry if needed.

However, we work hard to try to avoid having matters go to court whenever possible, in order to save you both time and money in reaching a resolution. Our experienced lawyers can help you with this, including compiling your claim or case and conducting mediation or negotiation.

This will depend on the type of claim you are making, as well as whether or not it goes to court.

Your Stacks lawyer will explain the potential for you to be found liable for costs before you proceed, and work hard to prevent this situation from arising.

Stacks Law Firm owes its origin to a determined honours graduate from Sydney University, Edward Raymond Stack, who established a law firm in Wingham on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales during the Great Depression in 1931. His three sons progressively joined the firm from the 1970s.

Today, Stacks is a robust network of locally owned, independent law firms across NSW, the ACT and Queensland.

Read more about our story.

Contact your local Stacks Law Firm office to arrange an initial consultation.

Once we understand your situation, we can discuss the options with you and make recommendations for how best to proceed in a timely, cost-effective way. This includes giving you an up-front estimate of the costs involved (where relevant) and potential timeframe to resolve your matter, so that you can make fully informed decisions.

We can then help you build evidence to support your case or claim, lodge an application on your behalf, assist you in negotiations and represent you in court if necessary.