Social justice and human rights

The firm's Social Justice Practice challenges the excesses of government and business, and champions the rights of those who are disadvantaged. We believe legal action that supports social justice and human rights contributes to a better society. That’s why we are Australia’s leading social justice and human rights law firm.

Our firm was founded on the belief that the law should serve everyone, not just those who can afford it. We believe in fighting back against unfair treatment and that the betterment of people and their livelihood is our greatest profit. We recognise that there are often people and even organisations who can’t afford the services of a lawyer. In appropriate cases we will provide our services without charge or on a reduced cost basis.

Maurice Blackburn Lawyers – on your side since 1919.

We have led litigation in the public interest on behalf of refugees, workers who have been harassed or underpaid, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and women defending their reproductive rights. We also run litigation that seeks to improve the transparency and accountability of government to support our democracy. 

As far back as 1945, the firm worked with the ACTU and won a claim for the 40-hour week. We have worked together with union clients for equal wages for women throughout the 1950s and 60s until the principle of equal pay for equal work became law in 1972.

We are here to help in these areas: