• Catholic Clergy Claims
    Catholic Clergy Claims
    Dr Vivian Waller has acted in claims against Catholic Clergy since 1995.
  • State Ward Claims
    State Ward Claims
    Dr Viv Waller has acted for former wards of the state of Victoria since 1997 when she commenced group litigation on behalf of many former residents of the Ballarat Orphanage who were abused in care.
  • The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
    The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse
    Established in January 2013, the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse investigated how institutions like schools, churches and sporting groups responded to allegations of child sexual abuse.

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Waller Legal is a high profile legal practice dedicated to helping survivors of institutional childhood sexual abuse.

Waller Legal

About Waller Legal

Waller Legal works exclusively to provide legal representation to survivors of institutional childhood sexual abuse.

Dr Vivian Waller, Principal Solicitor, has represented sexual assault survivors since she was admitted to practice in 1995.

Waller Legal currently employs a total staff of about 16, including 8 solicitors and 5 legal assistants.  We are located in Collingwood, Victoria.

We currently perform legal work for survivors in Victoria, but we are happy to consider cases in other states and territories.

 

  • Viv Waller Lawyer
  • Viv Waller outside County Court
  • Dr Vivian Waller entering the Supreme Court
  • Dr Vivian Waller outside the Supreme Court of Victoria

 

In Pursuit of Justice

We listen. We act. Our job is to help people to obtain compensation. We represented witnesses at Royal Commission hearings and we agitated for law reform and a National Redress Scheme.

We look after child abuse survivors. Unlike other firms, we don’t do anything else.

 

"No Win No Charge"

We offer "No Win No Charge" arrangements so lack of funds will never prevent access to justice for good causes.  If we offer you a No Win No Charge arrangement, we will also fund disbursements so that there are no upfront costs.

 

Why Choose Waller Legal?

  • Experienced, independent and fearless legal advice.
  • Dedicated representation of sexual assault survivors since 1995.
  • Strength in numbers.  Chances are, we are already involved in cases against the same offender, institution or defendant.  
  • We have an extensive archive of data that we can use to research and corroborate your case.
  • We are not new to the scene.  We are a well-established legal practice that has been dedicated to this type of work since day one.  Dr Waller has been representing survivors since 1995 – long before the Parliamentary Inquiry or Royal Commission were announced.    
  • Waller Legal was established in 2007 and has always specialised in institutional sexual abuse claims. 
  • We work closely with victim support groups, psychologists, the Centres Against Sexual Assault (CASAs), mental health care professionals, the broader legal profession and the community.
  • We are happy to give you advice on your potential claim, whether big or small. Waller Legal has experience in a wide array of claims. 
 

TESTIMONIALS

Read some words of praise from previous clients.

In pursuit of justice
In The News
Testimonials
  • What Dr Waller has achieved for me is nothing short of a miracle.  At the age of 60 I was feeling very upset at the abuse that I had encountered as a very young girl at the hands of a Salesian Brother.  My dealings with the Salesians many years later to try and resolve the matter left a very bitter taste in my mouth.  In fact, they made me feel abused all over again.  Vivian Waller was referred to me by Broken Rites, and that was the day my life changed.  I am so grateful that my words feel a little trite.

    Vivian has a no nonsense approach, keeps you on track, is honest, and like a dog with a bone, she keeps you going to have the desired outcome.  The world needs more Vivians.  Myself and my family are forever grateful to you.  Thanks mate, you’re my hero.

    Cathie
  • Again we cannot thank you enough for all your dedication and hard work over the past few years, we would not have made it without your persistence and dogged determination to get this to settlement stage, many others would have settled for less. We now have a girl who has beaten the odds, and whose self esteem has rocketed, is confident, and especially is calm!

    We wish you all good things in life, as without lawyers like yourself who will take the risk of taking on the "untouchables" we would not have kept our girl on track or most importantly, alive. The road for her is still to be traveled, but this will assist in making the journey less troubled, and we hope with time and continued therapy she will see herself as a complete person and not as a shadow of who she could be.

    You will be forever in our thoughts.

    TJ
  • Dear Vivian,

    I wish to thank you for everything you have done to enable me to feel some justice has been achieved with the hope that the Catholic Church recognises it’s failings and addresses them.  In doing so, the Catholic Church can continue in the future, without public cynicism and to keep alive the central message of all religion, “to love thy neighbour as you would love yourself”.

    Essentially, this is asking us to step into another’s shoes before we judge them.  I feel that you did this for me during my conversations with me, and this made it easier for me to go through the whole process.  I also won’t forget the thoroughness and delightful manner of your staff.

    JA
  • Thank you for what you did, what you said and who you are, your thoughtfulness will always be remembered with more gratitude that you could ever know.

    Cheryl
  • As a mother, I write to express my gratitude to you and your team for the support of my daughter following her sexual assault three years ago.  Although the bloke who assaulted her was not charged the dollars being awarded to her following your intervention certainly acknowledges the wrong that was done – and will I hope, help her to move on.  Thank you for the work you do.  With much gratitude and appreciation.

    PS
  • Dear Viv and Staff, thank you so much. You are all wonderful.

    E, L & J
  • I have thought of you often and the journey and the process of the last couple of years.  As a survivor you can think that every end step will be closure—arrest, guilt, sentencing, criminal case finished, civil case complete.  But there is never really an end.  Each part of the process is just a step closer to healing and closure.  You and your staff did a fab job of walking me through the civil case.

    For six months the money has sat idle in an account I can’t touch.  It feels as though if I touch it I am accepting it as silence money and once again feeling gagged.  But I am getting there.  It will be used towards a fresh start.  Hope for a more whole and healed future.  Thank you for being part of the process.

    Thank you for your professionalism, support, and persistence.

    KD
  • Thank you Vivian, I really appreciate all your help, you have given me a second chance in life.

    RF
  • You are a wonderful warrior for truth and justice.

    Mary
  • Thank you so much from me personally.  This decision has actually turned my life back around.  I didn’t realise how much my heart was hurting from anger and disbelief in the system.

    My heart is lighter and more at peace thanks to you all.  As a family we are unable to find suitable words on how much your efforts, consideration and concern means to us.  At last someone fought and believed in us.  Truly you have given us all so much peace.

    WK
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