Full disclosure: This is a 100% independent review based on my personal experience buying and later selling an investment property in Melbourne. I paid their standard fees with my own money and received no compensation or discount for writing this article.
How I Discovered First Class Legal
In early 2024, my wife and I decided to purchase our first investment property – a two-bedroom apartment in South Yarra, Victoria. Like most first-time buyers, we were terrified of making a costly mistake during the conveyancing process: missing cooling-off periods, hidden council orders, incorrect settlement dates, or worse.
After getting quotes from three different conveyancing firms (one national chain, one cheap online service, and First Class Legal), we chose First Class Legal because their communication during the quoting stage was head-and-shoulders above everyone else.
Little did we know this would turn out to be one of the best decisions we made during the entire property journey.
Who Is First Class Legal?
First Class Legal is a specialist property law and conveyancing firm licensed to operate in both Victoria and Queensland. They handle residential and commercial conveyancing, off-the-plan purchases, property subdivisions, transfers, and related legal work.
Their official website: https://www.firstclasslegal.com.au/
First Contact: Immediate Professionalism
I submitted an online enquiry on their website on a Friday night at 9:30 pm. I received a detailed, personalised response from senior conveyancer Lisa Marinos at 8:17 am Saturday morning – not an automated reply, but an actual human who had already reviewed the property address and pulled the title search.
By Monday morning, we had a fixed-fee quote, a full explanation of the entire process, and a checklist of exactly what we needed to provide. No vague “it depends” answers – just clarity from day one.
— First email from Lisa Marinos, First Class Legal
Fixed Fees with No Hidden Costs
One of the biggest stresses when buying property is unexpected legal bills. First Class Legal operates on a completely fixed-fee basis for standard transactions.
Our total cost for purchasing the South Yarra apartment came to $1,988 all-inclusive (professional fees + all searches + PEXA settlement fee). We knew this number upfront and that’s exactly what we paid – not a cent more, even though settlement was delayed twice by the vendor’s bank.
When we sold the same property 18 months later in 2025, they charged $1,390 fixed – again with zero surprises.
The Purchasing Process: Hand-Held Every Step of the Way
From contract review to settlement, First Class Legal managed everything flawlessly:
- Reviewed the Section 32 (Vendor Statement) within 4 hours of receiving it and flagged a minor building permit issue the real estate agent hadn’t disclosed
- Negotiated an extension of the cooling-off period when we needed extra time for finance approval
- Coordinated all searches (council, water, land tax, owners corporation) and explained each one in plain English
- Handled electronic settlement through PEXA – we didn’t have to attend anywhere in person
- Provided a detailed settlement statement three days before settlement showing every dollar in and out
Settlement occurred exactly on time, and we received confirmation and keys the same day.
Selling Experience: Equally Outstanding
When we decided to sell in mid-2025, we didn’t even get other quotes – we went straight back to First Class Legal.
They prepared the Contract of Sale and Section 32 within 48 hours, organised the conveyancing file for the selling agent, and managed another fully electronic settlement. The buyer’s conveyancer was notoriously difficult (a large national firm), but Lisa handled every request professionally and kept the sale on track.
We received our proceeds the same day as settlement – no holding funds “for clearance.”
Client Portal and Communication: Best in Class
First Class Legal uses a secure online portal where you can:
- Track every stage of your matter in real time
- Securely upload and download documents
- View all searches and certificates
- Electronically sign contracts and transfer documents
Email and phone responses were consistently within a few hours – even on weekends when urgent issues arose.
Comparison with Other Conveyancers I’ve Used
Over the past decade, I’ve bought and sold six properties using five different conveyancers. Here’s how First Class Legal compares:
| Criteria | National Chain | Cheap Online Service | First Class Legal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed fees | No – charged extra for everything | Yes but poor service | Yes – truly all-inclusive |
| Communication | Poor – different staff every call | Email only, slow replies | Outstanding – same conveyancer throughout |
| Speed | Average | Slow | Extremely fast without cutting corners |
| Attention to detail | Missed adjustments twice | Made errors requiring rectification | Flawless both times |
| Overall experience | Stressful | Regretted using them | Actually enjoyable |
Areas of Excellence
| Category | Rating | Why They Excel |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Fees | ★★★★★ | Completely fixed and competitive |
| Communication | ★★★★★ | Fast, clear, and personal |
| Technology & Portal | ★★★★★ | Modern, secure, easy to use |
| Attention to Detail | ★★★★★ | Caught issues others missed |
| Settlement Success | ★★★★★ | 100% on-time settlements |
| Value for Money | ★★★★★ | Worth every cent and more |
Final Verdict: The Best Conveyancer I’ve Ever Used
If you’re buying or selling property in Victoria or Queensland and want peace of mind, exceptional service, and a completely stress-free experience, I cannot recommend First Class Legal highly enough.
They aren’t the cheapest conveyancer on comparison websites – but they are, without question, the best value when you consider the quality, speed, and absolute certainty they deliver.
Thanks to First Class Legal, both our purchase and sale were flawless. I sleep better knowing professionals like them exist in an industry that’s often full of headaches.
Highly recommended:
https://www.firstclasslegal.com.au/
Published: December 2025
Last updated: December 2025