Peter Rankin, the Director of Rankin Lawyers, is an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist. He also has a wide range of expertise in many other legal areas. Peter will guide you through your legal challenges and create solutions for your legal needs.
Criminal Law
We handle all types of criminal matters in the Children’s, Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts of Victoria.
Employment Law
We can assist you regarding all areas of employment law, whether you are an employer or employee.
Government Prosecutions
We represent clients in a wide range of matters where they are facing a prosecution from a government agency or authority.
Litigation
We practise in many forms of litigation. If you are in dispute with another individual, or have a business or company dispute, we can help.
Rankin Lawyers offer expert advice in a wide range of legal issues
Peter Rankin, the Director of Rankin Lawyers has been a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 2006. He served as the Co-Chair of the Law Institute’s Criminal Law Section from 2022 to 2024 and is a current member of their Executive Committee. He has a range of expertise in other legal areas also including Family Law and litigation.
Peter offers a personal one on one service that you do not receive at larger law firms. Appointments are arranged quickly and we provide flexibility in meeting with you. We have offices in Melbourne and Dingley but can come to you or meet online if more convenient for you.
At Rankin Lawyers, we recognise that legal problems don’t happen in isolation of your life situation. At the outset, we will provide you with a clear understanding of what lies ahead in your situation, including critical details such as the likely costs and the anticipated duration of your matter. The result is a cost effective solution for all your legal requirements that considers your personal circumstances.
Profile - Peter Rankin
Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Economics (Monash University)
Accredited Criminal Law Specialist (Law Institute of Victoria)
Admitted to practice in 1987, Peter began his legal career in property law with roles with Gadens Ridgeway in Melbourne, and Winckworth and Pemberton in London, before returning to Melbourne to join Purcell, Balfe and Webb (now Balfe and Webb).
Peter then turned to work as a criminal lawyer, working with the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service (CAALAS) in Alice Springs, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ Legal Service (ATSILS) in Brisbane, and with the private law firms of PS Russo and Associates, and Terry Fisher and Co, both also based in Brisbane.
Continuing his interest in Indigenous legal affairs, he then worked as joint co-ordinator of a legal team at FAIRA Aboriginal Corporation, which facilitated groundbreaking compensation payments for stolen wages to thousands of Indigenous Australians, and in an 18 month role in Mackay with the Central Queensland Land Council, Peter specialised in native title law. Returning to Melbourne in 2003, he practised as a specialist criminal lawyer with the Criminal Law Division of Victoria Legal Aid, the State’s largest criminal law practice. His time at Victoria Legal Aid also included work with the Youth Legal Service, practising in the family and criminal law divisions of the Children’s Court of Victoria.
Peter brought his extensive experience to his own practice in 2007 when Rankin Lawyers was formed, focusing on criminal defence law, as well as providing legal services in a wide range of other legal areas. He is a skilled and highly regarded lawyer, and a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Criminal Law Specialist. Peter is heavily involved in the Criminal Law Section of the Law Institute and was the Co-Chair of the Section from 2022 to 2024.
Costs
Rankin Lawyers can provide you with a free initial advice or assessment of your legal situation. If you then want Rankin Lawyers to represent you, we can discuss what option best suits your needs – you can engage us on an hourly basis, or we can negotiate a fixed lump sum fee. We will then ask you to sign a client agreement.
Costs involved in cases will vary depending on the type of legal matter, and degree of complexity.
Criminal Law
Peter Rankin, the Director of the firm, has been representing clients in a wide range of criminal law matters for over 30 years. The firm was founded in 2007. Prior to that, Peter practised in Victoria, the NT and Queensland. Peter is a Law Institute Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law.
At Rankin Lawyers, we handle all types of criminal matters in the Children’s, Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts of Victoria.
Types of matters include:
- Bail applications
- Diversion applications
- Traffic offences including Drink Driving
- Drug offences
- Family violence matters
- Stalking offences
- Sexual offences
- Assaults
- Homicide
- Property offences
- Centrelink fraud
- White collar crime
- All Government prosecutions (see separate section)
- All Children’s Court matters
We offer a free appraisal of your matter at the outset and fully understand the stress involved in being charged with any criminal offence. Peter has extensive experience in three Australian jurisdictions as an advocate and in certain matters we also engage barristers from the Victorian Bar.
If more convenient we can come to you for an appointment. We can meet after hours and also on weekends. We are flexible to your needs and don’t adopt a rigid 9am to 5pm work model.
Family Law
We have extensive experience in all aspects of Family Law matters and always adopt a conciliatory approach to this area of the law in order to fast track settlements.
Family Law can be a long and exhausting area for clients to navigate. It can also be costly due to the possibly large number of Court appearances and the often aggressive stance that the other party takes.
From the outset we will provide you with a road map of how to navigate this difficult period of your life.
At Rankin Lawyers our aim is to reach the earliest and best possible settlement for our clients, and that includes settling matters in the most cost effective way possible without detracting from achieving excellence in outcomes.
In Parenting Matters we know how stressful and difficult these case can be. We listen to you and provide you with frank and considered advice, knowing that each family situation has its own specific issues.
In Property Matters, we from the outset provide clients with a clear, structured idea of how these matters progress. We focus on settling matters fairly and as early as possible so that our clients can move on in their lives, as well as reducing the legal costs for them.
We regularly assist clients in preparing Binding Financial Agreements or advising clients if their partner or ex-partner has suggested such an agreement be entered into.
We also represent clients in disputes regarding child support which can be a confusing and difficult area for many people to navigate.
Intervention Orders
We offer representation in all types of Intervention Order matters whether you are applying for an Intervention Order for yourself or responding to an application made against you.
We understand that these matters can be very emotionally difficult and we ensure that your options are thoroughly explained prior to your Court appearance to alleviate some of the stress.
In the case of matters under the Personal Safety Intervention Orders Act, if you are minded to explore the possibility of resolving the matter through referral to mediation, we will guide you through that process.
Sometimes Intervention Order applications are linked to Family Law proceedings and in such instances we talk you through how the two types of proceedings overlap.
Employment Law
At Rankin Lawyers we can assist you regarding all areas of employment law. Whether you are an employer who wants to provide a new contract to an employee, or whether you are an employee who wants a contract scrutinised, we can provide you with this advice.
In addition, we regularly act for clients who encounter difficulties in the workplace. For example if your work performance is called into question by your employer and you have to attend a workplace meeting at short notice, we can provide you with urgent advice. We can prepare you for such situations and can also if necessary deal directly on your behalf with your employer.
If you are unfairly dismissed, are not receiving your legal entitlements or face issues of workplace bullying, we can also provide you with the requisite advice and representation.
We are regularly involved in matters which reach the Fair Work Commission and engage experienced barristers from the Victorian Bar to act as your advocate in such situations.
Government Prosecutions
Rankin Lawyers represent clients in a wide range of matters in which they are facing a prosecution from a government agency or authority, including:
- Centrelink prosecutions
- WorkSafe prosecutions
- Victorian Building Authority prosecutions
- Transport Accident Commission prosecutions
- Australian Tax Office prosecutions
Litigation
At Rankin Lawyers, we represent clients in many forms of litigation. If you are in dispute with another individual, or have a business or company dispute, we can help.
Matters we have assisted clients with over the years include:
- Actions against a local council
- Defending a compensation application by another person
- Will disputes
- Debt collection matters
- Litigation resulting from motor vehicle accidents
- Contractual disputes
Rankin Lawyers acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional owners of the land, and pays respect to Elders past and present. Our firm supports a Treaty for First Nations people.
Rankin Lawyers is committed to providing safe and inclusive legal services