Now accepting Legal Consultancy clients — Brisbane & South-East Queensland
EQUITAS Legal & Mediation

Resolution
Without the
Courtroom.

Brisbane legal consultancy across a broad range of matters — with private mediation and family dispute resolution (FDR) for family separation launching once accreditation is complete.

Book an Intake Call Our Services
$440/hr
Legal consultancy
from (ex GST)
Weeks
Typical resolution
timeline (vs years)
1 Business Day
Typical response
time on enquiries
Coming Soon
Mediation & FDR —
accreditation in progress
💼
Legal Consultancy Available now
Practical legal advice and strategy across a broad range of matters, without the adversarial process. From $440/hr.
⚖️
Private Mediation Coming soon
Facilitated sessions for property, financial and parenting disputes. Opens once NMAS accreditation is complete.
👨‍👩‍👧
Family Dispute Resolution Coming soon
s60I Certificates and FDR sessions, once FDR practitioner registration is complete.
Led by
Shonae Morrison
Queensland Solicitor — completing NMAS Mediation & FDR accreditation
⚖️Queensland Practising Solicitor
🎓NMAS & FDR Accreditation In Progress
🔒All Consultations Confidential
💚Human-Centred Practice
💳Transparent Fixed Pricing

What we offer

Structured paths to resolution

Three complementary services, one trusted practice. Whether you need a facilitated session, a regulated FDR process, or expert legal advice — EQUITAS has you covered.

💼
Legal Consultancy Available now
$440/hr or packages from $1,200

Expert legal advice and strategic guidance from a Queensland solicitor, across a broad range of matters within scope — without the adversarial process where it can be avoided.

  • General legal advice and strategy: $440/hr
  • Separation planning package (3 sessions): $1,200
  • Document review and strategic guidance
  • Preparation for future mediation or FDR
  • Matters outside current scope referred to a trusted specialist
  • Not litigation — advice and consultancy only
Book a consultation →
⚖️
Private Mediation Coming soon
From $2,400 + GST per session (planned)

Facilitated, structured sessions to help parties reach agreement on family property, financial and parenting matters — without stepping into a courtroom. Opens once NMAS accreditation is complete.

  • Half-day sessions (3–4 hrs): $2,400
  • Full-day sessions (6–8 hrs): $4,000
  • 3-session package: $6,000
  • Agreement to Mediate and Terms of Settlement included
  • In-person (Brisbane) or online via Zoom
Register your interest →
👨‍👩‍👧
Family Dispute Resolution Coming soon
Pricing to be confirmed on registration

Regulated FDR services for parenting and family matters, required by the Family Law Act before most parenting applications to court. Opens once FDR practitioner registration with the Attorney-General's Department is complete.

  • s60I Certificates — issued only once registered
  • Commonwealth-funded and private options planned
  • Mandatory family violence screening built in
  • Individual intake sessions with each party
Register your interest →
Shonae Morrison, Principal of EQUITAS Legal & Mediation
Shonae Morrison
Queensland Solicitor

About Shonae

A solicitor who mediates.
A mediator who understands the law.

I built EQUITAS because I spent years watching people damage themselves — financially, emotionally and relationally — through adversarial processes that didn't have to happen that way. I believe most disputes don't need a courtroom. They need a clear head, a fair process, and someone who helps both sides actually hear each other.

My career has taken the long way round — from legal clerk, through junior solicitor and solicitor, to my current role as a legal manager — and along the way I've learned that good legal work is about people first, paperwork second. I'm a Queensland solicitor, admitted in 2021, and I'm completing my national mediation accreditation (NMAS), which covers general civil and commercial disputes, not just family matters.

Outside of law, I care a lot about wellbeing — mine and my clients'. I'm a down-to-earth, straight-talking person, and I think a good outcome should leave you feeling steadier, not more depleted. That's the energy I try to bring to every conversation at EQUITAS: practical, honest, and genuinely on your side.

Legal Clerk
Junior Solicitor
Solicitor
Legal Manager
Queensland Solicitor
Admitted 2021. Queensland practising certificate maintained with QLS.
NMAS Accreditation
National Mediator Accreditation System — in progress. NMAS Practice Standards applied.
FDR Registration
Registered FDR Practitioner — in progress. DSS registration for Commonwealth-funded FDR.
LPMC Graduate
Legal Practice Management Course — College of Law. Sound financial and compliance governance.

How it works

From first contact to resolution

Getting started is straightforward. Most matters move from first contact to scheduled session within a week.

1
Intake call

A 15–20 minute call to understand your situation, assess suitability, and explain the process and costs. No obligation, no pressure.

2
Engage & prepare

Sign your Costs Agreement, confirm your appointment, and complete any preparation. We guide you through everything.

3
Consult & resolve

Attend your consultation — in person or online. Walk away with clear advice and a practical plan forward. Mediation and FDR will follow this same simple process once launched.

Book your intake call

Why EQUITAS

Not all dispute resolution is the same.

EQUITAS sits at the intersection of two capabilities most practices separate. The result is a more integrated, more effective service for clients navigating separation.

Mediation pricing below reflects planned rates — private mediation opens once NMAS accreditation is complete.

Feature
Litigation
EQUITAS
Typical cost
$50k–$150k+
$2,400–$6,000
Typical timeline
1–4 years
Days to weeks
Outcome control
✗ Court decides
✓ Parties decide
Legal expertise
✓ Yes
✓ Yes (solicitor)
Relationship preservation
✗ Often damaged
✓ Protected
Mediation expertise
✗ No
✓ NMAS accreditation in progress
🎯
Dual qualification — rare and valuable
Most mediators are not solicitors. Most solicitors are not mediators. EQUITAS offers both in a single, trusted relationship.
💰
Transparent, fixed-fee pricing
You know what you're paying before you commit. No surprise bills. No hourly accumulation you can't predict.
⚡
Fast access, personal service
As a boutique practice, EQUITAS offers availability that large firms can't. Typically booking within 5–7 business days.
🤝
Agreements that hold
Agreements reached through mediation have significantly higher compliance rates than court orders — because the parties made them.
🌿
Human-centred approach
Separation is never just about assets and parenting plans. EQUITAS is designed for the whole person — not just the legal problem.

Professional referrers

When to refer to EQUITAS

EQUITAS works closely with solicitors, accountants, financial planners, GPs and psychologists who refer clients navigating separation.

Currently open for legal consultancy referrals. The mediation and FDR referral pathway — including s60I Certificates — opens once accreditation is complete; register now to be first in line.

Refer your client when...

  • 📋
    FDR is required before courtYour client needs a s60I Certificate before filing a parenting application. (Pathway opens once EQUITAS's FDR registration is complete — register interest now.)
  • 🚫
    You are conflicted outYou need a trusted, dual-skilled practitioner for the referral.
  • 💬
    Parties are willing to tryBoth parties are open to a structured resolution process before committing to litigation.
  • 💸
    Litigation costs outweigh the disputeThe matter could be resolved for a fraction of the cost of contested proceedings.
  • 👶
    Children are involvedThe parties need to preserve their co-parenting relationship — litigation often makes this impossible.
  • ⏱️
    Speed mattersYour client cannot wait 12–18 months for a court date. Mediation can be scheduled within days.

The referral process

1
Contact Shonae directly
Email or call. Provide a brief overview of the matter — we'll assess suitability immediately.
2
Intake call with your client
EQUITAS contacts your client within 24 hours to schedule a brief screening call. We manage all engagement from there.
3
You stay in the loop
With party consent, we update you on the outcome. We refer back to you if litigation becomes necessary.
Contact for referrals
admin@equitaslegalmediation.com.au
Send a referral enquiry

Common questions

What you need to know

Answers to the questions we hear most often from clients and professional referrers.

Is EQUITAS taking mediation or FDR clients right now? +
Not yet. Shonae is currently completing NMAS mediation accreditation and FDR practitioner registration with the Attorney-General's Department. Legal consultancy is available now. Use the contact form to register your interest — you'll be contacted the moment mediation and FDR open.
What is the difference between mediation and FDR? +
Mediation is facilitated negotiation for any type of dispute. Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) is a specific, regulated form of mediation for parenting and family matters under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). An FDR practitioner must be registered with the Attorney-General's Department and is required to issue a s60I Certificate after each FDR session — a document parties must have before filing most parenting applications in court. EQUITAS will offer this once registration is complete.
Do both parties need to agree to come to mediation? +
Yes. Mediation and FDR are voluntary processes — both parties must agree to participate. Once EQUITAS is registered, a s60I Certificate will be able to be issued reflecting non-attendance if one party refuses to take part, which satisfies the court's pre-filing requirement in most circumstances. Legal consultancy, by contrast, is available to you individually and doesn't require the other party's involvement.
How much does mediation cost, and who pays? +
Legal consultancy is available now from $440/hr, or as a 3-session separation planning package from $1,200. Private mediation is planned to start at $2,400 + GST for a half-day session, with Commonwealth-funded FDR sessions planned at no cost to eligible parties once registration is complete. Typically, mediation costs are shared equally between parties — but this is negotiable and set out in the Costs Agreement before any work begins.
Is what we agree in mediation legally binding? +
A signed Terms of Settlement is a legally binding contract. For parenting matters, it can be filed with the court as Consent Orders. For property and financial matters, it can form the basis of a Binding Financial Agreement. Parties are advised to obtain independent legal advice before signing, and EQUITAS can refer you to appropriate solicitors for implementation.
What if there has been family violence in the relationship? +
Once mediation and FDR are live, EQUITAS will conduct mandatory family violence screening with each party individually before any session. If safety concerns are identified, options include shuttle mediation (parties in separate rooms), additional safety measures, or a determination that mediation isn't appropriate — in which case a s60I Certificate can still be issued, satisfying the court's pre-filing requirement. In a legal consultancy appointment today, your safety and comfort are equally the priority — let us know upfront if there are any concerns so we can adjust the format.
How long does a mediation session take? +
A half-day session runs 3–4 hours. A full-day session runs 6–8 hours. In most straightforward matters, one or two sessions is sufficient to reach agreement. Complex or multi-issue matters may require additional sessions — a three-session package is available at $6,000. Individual intake meetings with each party are included in the session fee.

Get started

Ready to resolve?

Book a no-obligation intake call for legal consultancy, or register your interest for mediation and FDR ahead of launch. We'll talk through your situation and answer any questions you have — before you commit to anything.

📧
Email
admin@equitaslegalmediation.com.au
📍
Location
Brisbane, Queensland
In-person & online sessions available
🌐
Website
equitaslegalmediation.com.au
📅
Booking
Use the form or email directly
We respond within one business day

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