Men’s Legal Service was established in 2016 as a response to the observation that there was limited assistance available to men who were experiencing family law events.
Our Mission
Our mission is to make pragmatic, cost-effective legal services available to men at turning points in the lives of them and their families.
Our mission is achieved through the following key actions:
Providing low-cost and means-tested no-cost legal services to its clients in a dignified and professional manner.
Enabling and encouraging positive and responsible outcomes in the lives of its clients and their families enabling and encouraging positive and responsible outcomes in the lives of its clients and their families.
Being a ‘guide at the crossroads’ to connect men with community and government organisations and resources to assist with broader life issues.
Providing an informed, apolitical voice on issues that affect its clients.
Promoting recognition and acceptance within the community of the principle of the equality of men and women.
James Stokes
James Stokes is a founding director and current Chairperson of Men’s Legal Service. He is a private client and structuring lawyer of more than 25 years’ professional experience and has assisted men’s legal service clients for over 10 years.
James has assisted and acted for hundreds of clients, including running complicated parenting matters to trial and utilises his structuring and commercial experience to assist in complex financial family law matters. His manner is direct and calm, focussing on the most pragmatic approach to resolving dispute to enable families and clients to move on following family breakdown.
James is Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Business Law and Accredited Mediator and has completed a Master of Family Law and Dispute Resolution. He was awarded a Churchill Trust Fellowship in 2026 to examine family law systems and practices that promote effective engagement of men and fathers.
James is a member of Family Law Practitioners Association, the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and a Chartered Tax Advisor. James serves as a reserve officer in the Australian Army.
James lives with his wife, three daughters, Cavoodle and rescue cat.
The primary focus is on assisting fathers to continue to be available and involved in the lives of their children after family law events.
The firm operates as a genuine not-for-profit firm acting for clients from start to finish in their matters without compromise.
About Us
We act in the best interests of our clients over any debate or cause.
We strive to deliver legal services and inform associated issues accessibly and pragmatically.
As a law firm we play with a straight bat, above reproach, honouring our responsibilities as officers of the Court.
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A law firm first
Gender is not a criteria of nor the only pre-requisite of our clients. We help those who will work with us to assist them in accordance with the MLS Way.
Our representation of accused and the applicant, respondent or aggrieved parties never extends to enabling bad behaviour, abuse of others or the system and always focuses on resolving the tough issues head on.
We do not tolerate abuse or risk to our staff in any form or situation and actively invite clients who cannot abide this to find alternative assistance representation elsewhere.
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Zero Tolerance
We balance our not-for-profit nature and focus with pursuing long term sustainability.
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Financial Sustainability
We practice law with decency and respect, to the Court, other practitioners and our clients.
Most of all, we respect each other and recognise that we are a diverse group of imperfect people in a challenging, stressful, but rewarding area of law.
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Respect always
As the first and only organisation to attempt our mission, we recognise that our story is being written. We are consistent in following common processes and procedures and are open to innovation and development at the same time by always improving.
We strive to be the best at what we do and achieve excellence as legal practitioners in pursuit of pragmatic outcomes for our clients.
We invest and value the development of our systems and processes for efficiency, improvement, quality of life and value.
If there is a better way, a higher principle, a change that can add value to our clients and the lives of each other, that is the MLS Way.
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The Best Way