what you need to know
McDonald Murholme Solicitors and Employment Lawyers is a small city based law firm servicing individuals and small corporations. It offers legal advice and representation in three key areas of law in the state of Victoria.
Employment Law
We are closely identified with promoting the interests of Australian employees and provide a full range of assistance in every aspect of employment disputes. We advise clients about the form of contract they should have when entering employment, negotiate resolutions in difficult disputes for employees before termination and take legal proceedings on behalf of dismissed employees.
In the field of employment law, McDonald Murholme Solicitors provide advice on employment agreements, shareholder agreements, unfair dismissal or threatened dismissal, departure packages, redundancy, payment in lieu of notice, payment of entitlements, compensation for misrepresentation, unlawful discrimination and harassment.
McDonald Murholme Solicitors and Employment Lawyers does not compete with government agencies such as the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate (The Advocate).The Victorian Government spends hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising for work for The Advocate but usually needs to refer clients elsewhere if a controversial legal issue arises. McDonald Murholme Solicitors and Employment Lawyers provides advice and legal representation at a level above that of the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate.
The creation of The Advocate followed state government concern about the adverse effect of the Workchoices legistation.
As a newly established Office it is yet to show its long term value. It has no proven record in it's own name winning significant legal cases or negotiating favourable pre termination settlements in certain key employment disputes where persons are denied legal rights to a policy based redundancy or common law notice.
At a very basic level The Advocate claims to provide practical advice and we encourage persons to use The Advocate for minor inquiries about rates of pay, lunch breaks, first aid and holiday pay rates.
If anyone's employment is in jeopardy or they have been unlawfully / unfairly dismissed, they would be foolish to expect the government to negotiate a fair termination package or fight their case against a powerful employer breifing an expensive law firm.
Indeed the government often uses big law firms to protect itself against claims from it's own workers. McDonald Murholme Solicitors and Employment Lawyers is fearless in representing employees and has commenced proceedings on behalf of clients against the government and members of parliament where necessary.
As a government agency the Victorian Workplace Rights Advocate may need to be careful not to upset big business. Usually government will not apply a high level of recources effectively to win a civil case for a citizen by following the case through the court process save in limited cases of clear statutory breaches of the law.
McDonald Murholme Solicitors and Employment Lawyers strives to provide valuable legal advice, a strategy for success and sticks with the client through a difficult and stressful time. More..
Town Planning
Many business people and land owners find that the securing of permits for land use to expand a business, create a new business, build or subdivide land to be their greatest hurdle to getting on with their business. We assist throughout the process from advising on applications to local councils, assessing reports and litigation support through the appeal process, if necessary. More..