# Comparing Australian law firms — research checklist

Source: Best Solicitors — https://bestsolicitors.com/legal-statistics

General information, not legal advice. This checklist is not an endorsement of any firm.

## Your legal matter
- Identify the state or territory and the relevant legal issue.
- Record any court dates or other deadlines; obtain advice promptly if unsure.
- Ask whether the firm handles matters of this type in that jurisdiction.

## Professional status and experience
- Check the practitioner on the relevant state or territory regulator's register.
- Ask who will do the work and supervise it.
- Ask about relevant experience; do not assume a directory tag proves accreditation.
- Ask the firm to check conflicts before sharing sensitive details.

## Costs and engagement
- Ask for written information about the scope, fees, disbursements and billing approach.
- Ask what is excluded, when estimates may change and how updates are communicated.
- Read the engagement terms and ask about complaints and termination processes.

## Reviews and comparisons
- Open the original Google Maps listing, not just a quoted review count.
- Consider recency, specificity and volume together; check whether branches share a listing.
- Do not treat review counts, star ratings or rankings as guarantees of outcomes.
- Compare like-for-like services and jurisdictions rather than volume alone.

## Decision notes
Firm:
Practitioner/register checked:
Relevant experience:
Scope and fee information:
Communication/contact:
Questions outstanding:

For directory data, definitions and limitations:
https://bestsolicitors.com/legal-statistics

For the ranking methodology:
https://bestsolicitors.com/methodology