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A Melbourne-based boutique workplace relations law firm is expanding its practice through the incorporation of a fellow Melbourne employment and workplace law boutique firm.
Boutique workplace relations law firm Justitia Lawyers and Consultants has incorporated Angus & Carr into its practice, representing further growth for the firm, following the merger with Toop Workplace Law in 2024.
A highly respected niche firm, Justitia has built a reputation as a go-to law firm in Melbourne for addressing sensitive and challenging workplace issues, along with providing an extensive range of employment law advice to human resources and legal teams.
Justitia delivers services across a diverse client base, encompassing commercial enterprises, academic institutions, state government bodies, municipal councils – offering governance and employment guidance – and major non-profit organisations.
In a recent Lawyers Weekly Show podcast, Jess Toop, partner at Justitia Lawyers, highlighted the sharp rise in Australian Fair Work general protection claims, including the role of AI, the commission’s response, and how employers and employment lawyers should navigate potential issues around these areas.
Joining Justitia Lawyers as of 14 September, Angus & Carr is a boutique firm that works across the higher education sector, schools and medical research institutes.
The firm holds experience in assisting organisations with respect to employment law advice, Fair Work Commission, court proceedings and investigations.
Speaking on the addition, Justitia’s managing partner, Melissa Scadden, said that incorporating Angus & Carr into the firm was a decision that made sense, as both firms work with clients in similar ways.
“At Justitia, we focus on being accessible, careful listeners, who deliver value through a pragmatic and client-centric approach, and Angus & Carr, through the leadership of its principal, Lachlan Carr, works in the same way,” Scadden said.
“Equally importantly, we both recognise that when employers need help with workplace issues, they’re looking for people-focused solutions, not just legal ones.
“Justitia is excited to be growing its partnership and having someone of Lachlan’s calibre join it.”
Scadden also recognised Carr’s professional reputation and ability to implement technologies to provide greater results for clients.
“Lachlan is a dynamic, impressive and innovative lawyer who has also been extremely successful in building his own legal practice,” Scadden said.
“The legal profession is under a lot of pressure to innovate, to better integrate technologies such as AI and to provide even more value to clients.
“In Lachlan, we welcome a partner who is entrepreneurial and business-focused while also being empathetic, relatable and client-focused.”
Carr highlighted that Justitia was a great fit, appreciating the similarities within their approaches to legal practice.
“I was drawn to Justitia for many reasons, but predominantly, I would say we are aligned in our values, which is very important to me,” Carr said.
“While it is important as a lawyer to be able to provide expert legal advice to clients in a pragmatic and commercial way, it is also critical to be client-focused in every aspect of what we do.
“Justitia and Angus & Carr also share a desire to work with clients over a sustained period, because with that comes a deeper understanding of their organisation and needs, and a greater ability to partner with them more effectively.”
Carr said that Justitia’s reputation as a well-known, reliable boutique employment practice was due not only to the quality of its legal services for clients but also to its pleasant workplace culture.
“Justitia has been recognised for its strong and positive culture, which includes sophisticated mentoring and an emphasis on workplace flexibility for its staff – also called sustainable lawyering. This is something that I value and believe will resonate with my clients as well,” he said.
