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If a professional you trusted — a solicitor, doctor, financial advisor, or accountant — made a serious mistake that cost you money, your health, or years of hard work, you have every right to explore your legal options.
Fair Go Australia’s specialist professional negligence lawyers assist clients right across the New England region. We work on a no-win, no-fee basis, and your first case evaluation is completely free.
Professional negligence occurs when a person engaged in a skilled profession — law, medicine, accounting, financial advice, engineering — falls below the standard of care a competent practitioner would reasonably be expected to provide, and that failure causes their client measurable loss. In New South Wales, professional negligence claims are primarily governed by the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), which sets out the legal duties professionals owe their clients and the framework for assessing whether those duties have been breached.
New England is a region that relies heavily on professional services — from rural solicitors handling property transactions and deceased estates, to financial advisors managing farm succession and superannuation, to regional hospitals carrying the weight of healthcare for a geographically spread population. When those professionals get it seriously wrong, the consequences can be profound.
We assist New England clients with the full range of professional negligence claims, including:
One of the most common claims we see in regional NSW. This includes missed limitation periods that extinguish a client’s right to pursue a claim, errors in property conveyancing, negligent advice on agricultural leases or business agreements, and mishandled deceased estates — matters that can have long-lasting consequences for families and farming operations.
Regional communities across New England often have limited access to specialist medical services. When a misdiagnosis, delayed referral, or surgical error leads to a worsened condition or permanent injury, patients deserve to know whether that outcome could — and should — have been avoided.
Whether it involves unsuitable investment advice, negligent management of a self-managed superannuation fund, or poor guidance on farm financing arrangements, financial advisor negligence can destroy years of carefully accumulated savings.
Errors in tax planning, failure to advise on ATO obligations, or negligent preparation of financial statements can expose individuals and farm businesses to significant liability. If your accountant’s mistakes led to an ATO audit, a penalty, or a financial loss you should not have suffered, you may have a claim.
Design failures, structural defects, and inadequate professional certification on rural and residential building projects are more common than many realise — and the losses involved can be substantial.
If your situation involves a professional not listed above, contact our team directly. If a professional owed you a duty of care and their negligence caused you loss, there may be a claim to pursue.
The Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) is the primary legislation governing professional negligence claims in New South Wales. To succeed in a claim, you generally need to establish four things:
The Act uses what is known as the peer professional opinion test when assessing the standard of care — meaning the conduct of the professional is measured against what a reasonable practitioner in their field would have done in the same circumstances.
The Australian Consumer Law (ACL) may also provide an additional avenue where professional services were provided in a consumer context, including protections against misleading conduct and services not rendered with due care and skill.
For a plain-English explanation of duty of care and how it applies to your situation, see our legal concepts section.
Act before time runs out. In NSW, professional negligence claims must generally be commenced within 3 years of the date you became aware — or reasonably should have become aware — of the negligence, under the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW).
This matters more than many people realise. In New England, it is not unusual for professional relationships to span decades. A solicitor who handled your parents’ estate may have also handled your conveyancing for years. An accountant might have managed your farm’s finances across multiple tax periods before a serious error comes to light. The point at which the clock starts running is not always obvious — and that is precisely why you should not wait.
Missing the limitation period can permanently extinguish your right to claim, regardless of how strong your case might otherwise be. If you are unsure whether your window is still open, contact our team for a free assessment as soon as possible.
Whether you are in Armidale, Tamworth, Inverell, Glen Innes, Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Tenterfield, or anywhere across the New England tablelands and surrounding districts, our lawyers can assist you remotely.
The New England region spans a vast area of northern inland NSW, and we understand its distinct character — the reliance on agriculture, the tight professional networks, and the limited access to specialist services that shapes how people in this part of the state live and work. That understanding informs how we approach claims for clients in this region.
We also assist clients across broader NSW. See our coverage for:
One concern we hear from regional clients is whether distance makes things complicated. It does not. Our lawyers assist clients across New England entirely remotely — by phone, video conference, and secure document upload. You do not need to travel to Sydney or any other major city to get experienced legal help.
What makes Fair Go Australia different is focus. We do not practise family law, criminal law, or general litigation. Every member of our legal team works exclusively on professional negligence claims. That specialisation means we understand the specific legislation, the case law, and the practical dynamics of these claims at a level a general practice firm simply cannot match.
And because we work on a no-win, no-fee basis, you bear no upfront legal costs. Our fees are only payable if your claim succeeds. Your initial case evaluation — where we assess the merits of your situation, identify the relevant legislation, and explain what the process would look like — is completely free.
A free case evaluation costs you nothing and tells you exactly where you stand. Our specialist team will review your situation, identify the relevant legislation, and give you a clear, honest assessment — with no obligation to proceed.
Yes. Distance is not a barrier. Fair Go Australia assists clients across all of regional NSW entirely remotely. We conduct initial consultations by phone or video, and documents can be provided securely online. You do not need to travel to access specialist legal advice.
In most cases, you have 3 years from the date you discovered — or ought reasonably to have discovered — the negligence, under the Limitation Act 1969 (NSW). This deadline is strict. If you suspect a professional has caused you loss, seek advice as early as possible. Waiting can cost you your right to claim entirely.
Nothing. Fair Go Australia operates on a no-win, no-fee basis. Your initial case evaluation is free. If your claim proceeds and succeeds, our fees are agreed in advance and deducted from the settlement or judgment. If the claim does not succeed, you owe us nothing in legal fees.
Any professional who owes a duty of care to their client can potentially be held liable for negligence — including solicitors, doctors, financial advisors, accountants, engineers, architects, and mortgage brokers. In the New England context, claims involving rural solicitors, regional medical practitioners, and agricultural financial advisors are particularly common.
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
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