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Maurice Blackburn and the AWU

Maurice Blackburn lawyers will go the extra mile to get you the compensation you deserve. If you are injured at work or have suffered loss, I recommend Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. They are the experts in personal injury law and will get you the best possible outcome.

Maurice Blackburn champions the same values and causes as the AWU. Their lawyers have successfully fought to improve workers’ rights and to achieve fairness in the workplace. Maurice Blackburn is the preferred legal advisor for our union.

While the firm has a strong reputation in work and road injury compensation, they can also help you with a range of other services including financial advice or Will disputes, medical negligence, asbestos related diseases and superannuation and insurance matters. As a union member you can benefit from a range of free legal services, including a free initial consultation and a standard Will.

The AWU is proud to stand alongside Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, who has successfully represented thousands of our members. If you need legal advice or assistance, please contact the AWU on 1300 362 298, or contact Maurice Blackburn directly.

Ronnie Hayden
Victorian Branch Secretary

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Benefits for being an AWU member

Find out what our specialist lawyers can do for you

As a member of the AWU you have the bonus advantage of having Maurice Blackburn in your corner. We have an almost 100-year history of fighting for Australians to get a fair go. And we have fought alongside and on behalf of trade unions every step of the way. That's almost a century of providing successful and innovative legal advice to trade unions across Australia, covering workplace disputes, industrial action, good faith bargaining, breaches of awards and agreements, and union right of entry matters.

After a hundred years' experience under our belts, we’ve become experts at protecting and enhancing union members' rights. Which is why we are Australia's leading trade union law firm. We've been working together with the AWU for many years championing the rights of everyday people and defending workers' rights.

As an AWU member your membership gives you access to:

free telephone advice regarding Personal Injuries
a free half hour consultation with one of our Industrial and Employment lawyers if referred through the AWU
free first consultation for all Personal Injury services
'no win, no fee'* for all Personal Injury services
discounted fees for Personal Injury services
an office close to your location
the creation of a free standard Will for you and your partner
access to our asbestos register.

Our specialist team of lawyers can be relied upon to:

be available when you need us and rapidly respond
perform reliably and dependably
use our unparalleled geographic spread of offices throughout Australia
keep you updated with developments on the legal landscape which may have implications for your members, their risk exposures, and for your organisation
achieve the highest volume of media coverage if necessary
avoid any conflict of interest, or even the appearance of possible conflict
remain loyal and discreet in our dealings with you.

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About Maurice Blackburn

Fairness is a universal right, not just for the chosen few.

If the right to be heard, be free, be safe or be equal is compromised for one person, then we risk everyone’s rights, too. Because a society that’s unjust to others, is a society that’s unjust to all. From the time we were founded by trade unionist and lawyer Maurice Blackburn in 1919, we have had a strong commitment to workers’ rights and social justice.

In 1919, Maurice Blackburn – a man whose sense of civil liberty was ahead of his time – set the course for social justice in Australia. In the time since, his law firm has contributed to some of Australia’s most influential legal decisions, from the 40-hour week and equal pay for women and Indigenous workers, to the fight against patenting of human genes and the largest class action settlement in Australian history. And the legacy grows as we continue to protect the exploited, free the wrongfully detained and hold the big names to account. Although we’ve been leading the charge for over a century now, as far as we’re concerned, the fight for fair has only just begun.

Our Values

Justice

We’re for the little guy. We believe everyone deserves access to justice regardless of their financial means, whether they’re an individual or a group of shareholders.

Fairness

We recognise that our clients put their trust in us to make the most of their shot at justice. So we work as a team to fight for a fair result for our clients. It’s the right thing to do.

Compassion

It’s one thing to understand what someone is going through when the chips are down. It’s another to feel genuine compassion. At Maurice Blackburn we treat our clients and our colleagues like real people. We care about each other, and we’re not afraid to take thing personally.

Tenacity

Every day, Maurice Blackburn people are faced with a job that’s as complex as it is challenging. Good. We’ve never been afraid of the tough stuff. We approach hard work and big cases with a restless tenacity that is truly unique amongst our peers.

We have delivered thousands of compensation settlements for Australians who have suffered workplace accidents, or been victims of negligence and unfair practices. We believe that fairness is a universal right, not just for the chosen few. That’s why we fight for the rights of everyday Australians.

Related services

Personal injuries
Superannuation & insurance claims
Will disputes
Employment law

Workers' compensation
We know that claiming workers' compensation can be a complicated and involved process, that’s why we have a team of expert lawyers that specialise in WorkCover and workplace injuries claims. We assist clients who've had an accident at work, or whose health and wellbeing have been affected in the workplace, this also applies to any pre-existing injury, illness or disease worsened in the workplace. Our aim is to help our clients manage financially while not fully able to work and to access the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation in order to return to work as quickly as possible.

Road injuries
Our specialist road accident lawyers assist clients injured on our roads while driving a car, truck or motorcycle, or travelling as a passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. You also have varying rights in different states when travelling on public transport, and if you collide with public transport. Our highly experienced personal injury lawyers understand every aspect of the road accident legal system and know how to ensure our clients access their full range of benefits to maximise their recovery.

Public liability
Public liability law covers a wide range of circumstances where people have been injured, or where someone close to them has died, due to the negligent acts of a third party. These accidents may have occurred in a public place, such as a shopping centre, a park, or even on the footpath.

Dust & workplace diseases
We assist people who have developed diseases as a consequence of being exposed to asbestos, silica dust, fumes, chemicals and more. If you've developed a disease due to exposure at work or at home for example while doing renovations, you may be eligible to claim compensation. We bring claims on behalf of clients who suffer from a range of conditions including asbestos-related diseases, silicosis, lung diseases and cancers.

Medical negligence
You have the right to trust your doctor to look after you properly. If your health care professional, hospital or other facility breaches what’s known as their duty of care, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation. At Maurice Blackburn we have Australia’s leading medical malpractice team, dedicated to helping you get your life back on track. No matter what you are up against, Maurice Blackburn will fight to protect you. We assist people who have been injured as a result of negligence on the part of a health service provider such as a hospital, doctor, dentist, pharmacist or allied health professional.

Institutional abuse
If you have suffered childhood abuse, no amount of financial redress can take away the pain caused. However, you may be entitled to compensation to support you. Our expert abuse claims lawyers understand the difficulties you are facing, will make sure the process is as simple as possible and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Specially trained in trauma-informed practice, our lawyers and support staff will approach your claim in a respectful, discrete manner to ensure your specific needs are met.

Superannuation is not only available when in retirement, but can provide an income source if you have to stop work because of injury or sickness. This can be particularly important where the injury or sickness is not covered by a compensation scheme.

Maurice Blackburn has the largest and most successful superannuation and insurance practice in Australia and can assist clients with early access to superannuation, or claiming disability benefits, income protection and life insurance.

Our lawyers help clients track down their super and take on cases on a no win, no fee basis.

We also have the largest general insurance claims practice in Australia, and can help you with your flood, fire, motor vehicle or travel insurance claim. If you are unhappy with the way your claim is being handled by the large insurance firms, contact one of our skilled insurance lawyers for advice.

Maurice Blackburn has helped hundreds of Australians successfully dispute Wills that were unfair. The death of a family member is always painful, but it can be more distressing if you discover you have been cut out of their Will or not been allocated a fair share of their estate.

We know that contesting a Will can be a complex, stressful and emotionally painful process. Our expert lawyers aim to get you a speedy resolution or settlement. In fact, 98 percent of our cases are resolved without the need to go to court.

Time limits apply and vary from state to state, so if you need to contest a Will, contact our lawyers as soon as possible.

Maurice Blackburn’s employment lawyers provide advice on all aspects of the employment relationship. We have a proven track record in providing advice and representation on a wide range of complex legal issues, from negotiating the terms of employment contracts, to enforcing bonus schemes and discretionary entitlements. That’s because our employment law division is recognised nationally as Australia’s leading executive employment law practice.