Legal Documents Without a Lawyer in Australia | Claim Done
Legal Documents Without a Lawyer in Australia
Most Australians do not need a solicitor for everyday legal documents — letters of demand, cease and desist letters, statutory demands, and tribunal applications. These are standard forms under Australian law, and the law itself tells you exactly what they must contain. The question is whether you want to draft them yourself, use a template, or have them generated and sent automatically.
Done-for-you legal documents from $97
Which legal documents can you prepare without a lawyer?
Letter of demand
A letter of demand is not a court document — it is a formal written demand for payment or action. There is no prescribed form under Australian law. However, it must clearly state the legal basis for the claim, the amount owed, a deadline, and the consequences of non-compliance. Claim Done generates letters of demand that cite the correct ACL provisions or contract law basis for $97.
Cease and desist letter
A cease and desist letter is a private legal notice — not a court filing. It demands that the recipient stop specified conduct (defamation, copyright infringement, harassment) and sets out the legal consequences of continuing. No solicitor signature is legally required. Claim Done generates cease and desist letters citing the correct legislation for $97.
Statutory demand
A statutory demand under s459E of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) has a prescribed form — Form 509H. This form must be completed precisely: wrong format can make the demand invalid. Claim Done prepares statutory demands in the correct prescribed form for $197.
Tribunal applications
NCAT, VCAT, QCAT, SACAT, ACAT, and SAT applications are forms filed directly with each tribunal. No solicitor is required — these tribunals were designed for self-represented parties. Claim Done prepares the application form, statement of claim, and evidence bundle for $197.
When do you need a lawyer?
You should engage a solicitor when:
- The dispute involves more than $50,000 and the legal issues are complex
- There are multiple parties, counterclaims, or potential criminal liability
- The other side has lawyers and the power imbalance is significant
- You need legal advice on your strategy — not just a document
- The matter involves litigation in a superior court (District Court, Supreme Court, Federal Court)
For most everyday consumer, tenancy, and commercial disputes under $30,000, a well-prepared self-represented application outperforms — or matches — a solicitor-drafted one at a fraction of the cost.
What Claim Done produces (and what it is not)
Claim Done is a document generation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice. Our AI generates documents by applying Australian law to your specific facts — the same process a junior solicitor would follow for a routine letter of demand. The document is generated from your description and delivered to the other party automatically.
Price comparison
| Document | Claim Done | Solicitor (typical) | DIY template |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter of demand | $97 | $350–$800 | $0–$79 (you draft) |
| Cease and desist letter | $97 | $400–$900 | $0–$79 (you draft) |
| Statutory demand | $197 | $500–$1,200 | $0 (risky if wrong) |
| Tribunal application | $197 | $700–$2,000 | $0 (your time) |