What Can a Lawyer Help You with at VCAT?

Victorians like you (with an ongoing dispute) seek prompt and fair justice through the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). You may want to consider using solicitor or lawyer to assist you to resolve your unsettled issue in an affordable manner.

Many clients approach our office after being told by a VCAT member to “go get a solicitor” as managing a matter in VCAT is not as easy as it might seem at first.

Does Your Case Deal With?


Building and Construction
Legal Practice

Goods and Services
Medical Treatment of Advanced Care Directives
Aboriginal or Traditional OwnershipMental Health
Co-owned Land or GoodsOwners Corporation
Disability ActPlanning Disputes
Environment or Natural ResourcesPower of Attorney
Equal OpportunityPrivacy
AdministratorRenter-Landlord Issues
GuardiansReview or Regulation
Health RecordsTraditional Ownership
Land Valuation
Unreasonable Flow of Water between Properties
Leases – Commercial or RetailVoluntary-Assisted Dying

Can’t find what you’re looking for? Ring a solicitor at Cogent Legal on 03 7022 6707.

[Please note that this is a legal firm that does charge for its services and is not able to provide “no fee” services.]

What Does Working Your Issue Out in VCAT Mean?
Nothing says you must have a lawyer at VCAT. However, should your application be accepted, the process forward means navigating a legal system. A process that may require mediation, direction hearings, compulsory conferences BEFORE a hearing.

Which means there will be things you must do. Things like prepare evidence, negotiate, present your case at the hearing.

If you have had a matter lodged against you, there will be questions on what are the next best steps.

How Long Does It Take?
Expect your progress through the VCAT process to take less than a month or a few years. It depends on the type of case, such as renter-landlord dispute versus a billion-dollar property dispute. Also, simple cases tend to go faster than complex ones.

Why Use Us?
This is where your matter could benefit from our experience assisting and guiding it through the VCAT maze. You get help in preparing your case to ensure you present your side in the best possible light.

Read more about how we can play a role in your case >

What are the Costs?
Win or lose, you pay for your legal cost — unless VCAT decides it fair for a party to pay the other parties costs.

Read more about the costs for your type of case >