Ethical solutions for immigration legal matters

We support individuals and families with all Australian immigration law matters, regardless of location – even internationally.

With over fifteen years of experience, we’ve represented clients from all over Australia as well as overseas, handling everything from straightforward visa or citizenship applications to complex cases involving refusals, cancellations and tribunal or court appeals.

Consultations are available via phone, video conferencing (Microsoft Teams or Zoom), or in person at our Melbourne office.

Your first meeting with one of our qualified lawyers costs $380. We may be able to reduce this fee in special cases.

In this first meeting, we will listen to your situation and tell you what options you have. We will explain how long the process might take and tell you if your case is likely to succeed. You’ll get a clear breakdown of all costs, including our fees, visa fees, and any other costs you need to pay. We will also give you a realistic timeline of how long it may take to get an outcome.

We believe in being clear about costs. We offer fixed fees with no surprises and explain all costs from the start until the end of your matter. If anything changes or issues arise, we will keep you updated as we don’t want there to be any hidden surprises making your immigration journey more complicated or stressful. We also offer flexible payment plans to ensure our services are accessible to those who need them most.

Some complex cases are charged by the hour. We will explain these rates before we start working together. All costs will be written in your legal agreement so you’re aware of how much you will need to pay at every part of your legal journey.

To learn more about our fees, please contact ssilegal@ssi.org.au.

SSI Legal is registered with the Victorian Legal Services Board, to practice nationally.  Each of our lawyers is registered, and we’re happy to provide you with their registration details once you’ve been assigned to the designated lawyer who is handling your case.

Through a long history of working with newcomers to Australia, SSI identified the need for more ethical, trusted legal services to support people navigating Australia’s ever-changing and complex immigration system.

SSI Legal Pty Ltd was founded to meet this need and launched through the acquisition and integration of Mary Hanna Lawyers, a Melbourne-based migration law practice with extensive experience and a highly regarded reputation for delivering quality services in immigration law.  All lawyers, clients and operating processes are now part of SSI.

The founder of Mary Hanna Lawyers, Mary Hanna, was appointed to the Administrative Review Tribunal (formerly known as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal) in late 2023, transitioning her Practice to SSI from 27 November 2023.

We are proud to continue to build on the respected work of Mary Hanna and be led by the same values and principles of our wider organisation, committed to putting people first with a focus on ethics, honesty and respect.

With over fifteen years of immigration law practice and a 95 per cent success rate over the last four years, our team has handled everything from basic visa applications to complex tribunal or court appeals. We understand the nuances of immigration law and are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for our clients, no matter how challenging the case.

At SSI Legal, we operate a little differently compared to many other immigration law firms.

As part of a national not-for-profit SSI and certified social enterprise, our mission goes beyond legal outcomes. Every case we handle is about making a real, lasting impact – helping people access quality legal representation while working toward a more just and inclusive Australia.

Here’s how we stand out:

• Ethical, client-focused service:  Every client has a dedicated lawyer and support team, offering personalised service, regular updates, and clear guidance. And if we believe we’re not the right fit for a case, we’re upfront about it – because maintaining trust with clients is our priority.
• Honest, fair and flexible pricing: We know that cost transparency is crucial for individuals navigating immigration law. That’s why we offer flexible fee structure with no hidden surprises. Clients understand the full cost from the outset, and if complexities arise, we’re transparent every step of the way.
• Proven track record: With over fifteen years of immigration law experience and a 95 per cent success rate over the past four years, our team has worked on everything from straightforward visa applications to complex matters involving refusals, character and/or identity concerns, visa cancellations, tribunal or court appeals as well as ministerial intervention requests.

Each client has a dedicated lawyer and an approachable support team, offering personalised service and regular updates.

Throughout the whole process, you will have a consistent point of contact if you have any questions or concerns. Our tight-knit team of lawyers, paralegals and admin staff pride ourselves in being available and agile enough to resolve matters quickly and smoothly.

We’re an immigration law firm in Melbourne supporting clients across Australia, and overseas, with migration law matters. We can work with you face-to-face in our Carlton office or online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom whether you’re in Australia or overseas.

All your documents and conversations with our team remain completely confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside of our organisation without your permission. Even if your employer is paying for your visa application, it is up to you what you share with your employer.

How we engage with partner organisations is completely up to you. We can support an individual case or work towards a long-term partnership where we advise our partner on a range of issues relating to their immigration matters and objectives. We pride ourselves on transparency, accessibility and flexibility so we offer a genuinely helpful service to our partners depending on their needs.

We support all sectors and organisations that are based in Australia and require support with immigration matters. Our team of migration lawyers can service government, private, not-for-profit and community organisations of all sizes.

We’re committed to providing the best possible outcomes, and we’re not afraid to tell a client when we don’t think we can help – because integrity matters to us.

By partnering with us, you can stay competitive in the constantly evolving immigration landscape, helping you attract and retain top talent. Enhance your employees’ experience by providing them with a trusted partner to guide them through their immigration journey and make Australia a lasting home.

SSI Legal Pty Ltd has been certified as a social enterprise by Social Traders, Australia’s national certification body that verifies an organisation is doing business for good. Through this certification, you can be sure our service is creating genuine impact and contributing to a fairer and more equitable Australia.

For those organisations that are reporting their social impact or seeking reportable spend against social procurement targets, any fees paid to SSI Legal for immigration or citizenship support are fully reportable. We can provide referrers or partners with regular spend and impact data, as required.

• Ethical and client-focused: Each partner organisation and staff member who is a client with us has a dedicated lawyer and an approachable support team, offering personalised service and regular updates.
• Cost transparency: We’ve built our approach on honest and fair pricing. Clients know the full cost from the outset, with no unexpected surprises. It’s clear and simple pricing and in cases where complexities arise, we’re always transparent and work closely with our partners to find the best way forward.
• Proven results and experience: With over fifteen years of experience and a 95 per cent success rate over the last four years, our team has handled everything from basic visa applications to complex tribunal appeals. We understand the nuances of immigration law and are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for our partners and their staff.

We’re flexible and you don’t need to tie your organisation to any long-term agreements or lock-in contracts to get our support with your legal matter.

Our fees are flexible based on the needs of the organisation. Rest assured, we are competitive and will give costings in advance so there won’t be any big surprises along the way.

Initial consultations are charged at a rate of $380, with some flexibility negotiable for sector partners. During and following this initial consultation with a lawyer, you will be provided with legal advice and options regarding your particular situation, expected timelines and likelihood of success plus a detailed fee breakdown including professional fees, visa costs and other expected outgoings.

Each client and organisation we support receives a dedicated lawyer and an accessible team, providing personalised guidance with regular progress updates. From start to finish, your organisation will have a consistent point of contact for any questions or concerns.

Our collaborative team of experienced immigration lawyers, skilled paralegals, and responsive support staff is committed to quick and effective resolutions, ensuring your visa or immigration matter proceeds smoothly.