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PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE · HOBART · TASMANIA
When a professional you trusted causes you real harm — financial loss, a health setback, a deal gone wrong because of negligent advice — the aftermath can feel completely overwhelming. You followed the right process. You paid for expertise. And it still went wrong.
If that’s where you find yourself, you’re not alone, and you do have options. Fair Go Australia is a specialist professional negligence platform — not a general practice firm — connecting Tasmanians with experienced legal teams who handle exactly this kind of claim. We operate on a no-win, no-fee basis, and our reach is national, so wherever you are in Tasmania, we can help.
YOUR RIGHTS IN TASMANIA
Professional negligence happens when a licensed professional — a solicitor, doctor, financial advisor, accountant, engineer — fails to meet the standard of care their role demands, and that failure causes you measurable harm. It’s a specific legal concept, not just a bad experience or an outcome you’re unhappy with.
In Tasmania, professional negligence claims are governed primarily by the Civil Liability Act 2002 (TAS). To succeed in a claim, four elements generally need to be established:
Courts assess each of these carefully. Getting legal advice early is the best way to understand whether your situation meets the threshold — which is exactly what our free case evaluation is for.
WHAT WE HANDLE
Whatever type of professional let you down, our team has experience with that category of claim. We regularly assist Hobart and Tasmanian residents with the following:
Solicitor negligence
Missed deadlines, poor advice, or failures that cost you your case or your rights. Learn about solicitor negligence claims →
Medical negligence
Misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or treatment failures that worsened your condition. Learn about medical negligence claims →
Accountant negligence
Tax advice errors, audit failures, or financial mismanagement that triggered penalties or losses. Learn about accountant negligence claims →
Financial advisor negligence
Unsuitable investment advice, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or managed fund failures. Learn about financial advisor negligence claims →
Engineer or architect negligence
Design defects, certification failures, or structural issues that caused loss or damage. Learn about engineer negligence claims →
If your situation doesn’t fit neatly into one of these, it doesn’t mean there’s no claim — contact us and we’ll assess it honestly.
LEGISLATION & YOUR RIGHTS
The Civil Liability Act 2002 (TAS) is the primary legislative framework for negligence claims in Tasmania. It sets the standard against which professional conduct is measured, and guides how courts assess whether a breach has occurred and what damages may be appropriate.
Under the Act, courts consider what a peer professional, acting reasonably and competently, would have done in the same circumstances. If the conduct in question fell materially below that benchmark — and that gap caused your loss — a claim may be available.
Professional negligence claims in Tasmania may also engage the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), particularly where the professional was providing a service in trade or commerce. The ACL contains consumer guarantees around the quality and fitness for purpose of services, which can provide an additional avenue for redress in some circumstances.
The Law Society of Tasmania is the relevant regulatory body for legal practitioners in the state. Where a solicitor or barrister’s conduct is in question, their obligations under the Legal Profession Act may also be relevant to your claim.
If you’re uncertain which framework applies to your situation, that’s something we’ll help you work through during your initial evaluation — at no cost to you.
LIMITATION PERIODS · TASMANIA
This is one of the most important questions to get right — and the answer depends on the nature of your claim.
Under the Limitation Act 1974 (TAS), the general limitation period for professional negligence claims is six years. For personal injury claims arising from professional negligence, a shorter three-year period applies. In both cases, the clock typically starts from the date you became aware — or should reasonably have become aware — of the negligence. This is known as the date of discoverability principle.
This distinction matters. In many professional negligence situations, the harm isn’t immediately obvious. A solicitor’s oversight may only become apparent when a limitation period expires on your underlying claim. A doctor’s misdiagnosis may only come to light when another practitioner reviews your case. The discoverability principle acknowledges that reality — but it doesn’t mean the clock waits indefinitely.
⚠ Act before time runs out
In Tasmania, professional negligence claims must generally be commenced within the applicable limitation period from the date you became aware (or should reasonably have become aware) of the negligence. Missing this deadline can permanently extinguish your right to claim. If you are unsure whether your limitation period is still open, contact our team for a free assessment as soon as possible.
OUR PROCESS
Our process is designed to remove as many barriers as possible between you and the outcome you deserve. It starts with a free, no-obligation case evaluation — a proper assessment of your situation, not a sales pitch. We’ll look at whether the four elements of negligence are present, what evidence exists, and what realistic compensation may look like.
If your claim has merit, we’ll explain the pathway forward clearly. Our legal team works on a no-win, no-fee basis, which means you won’t be asked to pay legal fees unless your claim succeeds. We take on the financial and procedural burden of the claim on your behalf — from preparing evidence and engaging expert witnesses to negotiating with the other side and, where necessary, running the matter before the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
Fair Go Australia operates as a specialist national platform. We handle Hobart and Tasmanian matters remotely in the vast majority of cases — consultations are conducted online or by phone, and we’ll guide you through every step regardless of where in Tasmania you’re located. You don’t need to be in Hobart itself to access our services, and you won’t need to attend any offices in person for most stages of the claim.
We also want to flag what we’re not: we are not a general practice firm that occasionally touches negligence matters. Professional negligence is the only area we work in. That specialist focus makes a real difference when your claim is being assessed, built, and run.
Getting started costs you nothing. Our free case evaluation is completely confidential, carries no obligation, and typically receives a response within one business day. You’ll speak with someone who understands professional negligence in the Tasmanian context — not a call centre.
Whether your situation is straightforward or complicated, we’ll give you an honest, no-pressure assessment of where you stand.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Yes. Professional negligence claims are not confined by where the professional is based. What matters is where the harm occurred, where you reside, and which state’s legislation applies. Fair Go Australia operates nationally, and our team handles cross-jurisdictional matters regularly. If a Sydney-based accountant provided advice that caused you loss in Hobart, that’s still a claim we can assess — under Tasmanian or Commonwealth law depending on the circumstances.
Under the Limitation Act 1974 (TAS), the general limitation period is six years from the date you discovered — or ought reasonably to have discovered — the negligence. For personal injury claims, a three-year period applies. These timeframes can be difficult to calculate precisely, especially when the harm wasn’t immediately apparent. If you have any doubt about whether your window is still open, contact us today — a missed deadline can permanently bar your claim.
No-win, no-fee means you pay no legal fees unless your claim is successful. If your claim does not succeed, you are not liable for our fees. This funding arrangement exists so that access to justice isn’t limited to people who can afford to pay legal fees upfront. Before proceeding, we’ll explain clearly what costs may apply if the claim succeeds, so there are no surprises.
Most professional negligence claims in Tasmania are heard in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, which sits in Hobart. Depending on the value and nature of the claim, some matters may also be dealt with in the Magistrates Court for lower-value disputes, or in the Federal Court of Australia where the claim involves federal legislation such as the Australian Consumer Law. We’ll advise you on the appropriate forum based on your specific circumstances.
Our specialist team is ready to assess your situation — at no cost and with no obligation. We also handle claims across the rest of professional negligence lawyers Tasmania and Australia-wide.
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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