About Us.
TP Legal & Associates
TP Legal & Associates are experienced, specialised lawyers practising in Child Protection and Intervention Orders.
Founded by Terri Papoutsoglou, a lawyer with over 25 years’ experience working in Victoria’s Children’s Courts, and now supported by a dedicated team, TP Legal & Associates has made a noticeable impact in the state’s legal arena. This includes three successful Victoria Supreme Court challenges and consistently achieving positive outcomes for a higher volume of cases per lawyer than the average firm.
Committed to Accessible Legal Services
We offer virtual consultations alongside in-person options, allowing clients across Victoria – metropolitan, regional, and rural – to conveniently connect with our lawyers. This flexible approach saves you time and travel, while retaining the secure sharing of documents, conference calls, and even virtual court representation. We’re passionate about making legal services accessible to everyone, including those people from diverse cultures. Learn more about our online legal consultation.
Compassion, Respect, Unity
At TP Legal & Associates, our clients can rest assured they’ll experience a professional service where each and every person is treated with dignity and respect. You won’t be judged by us; we’re here to help and are focused on achieving the best outcome for you, your family, and your children.
Clients looking to find the best representation possible, alternative representation, who are in a rural area and have yet to be allocated a lawyer, or those who chose to represent themselves but then realised a professional lawyer would offer a better result, all come to see our team and are pleasantly surprised.
TP Legal’s compassionate approach is based on helping vulnerable children, parents, and families. We focus on family values, keeping children with their families, and ensuring indigenous people remain with their culture. Our clients can receive Legal Aid if eligible, and if you’re experiencing financial hardships, unlike many other law firms, we do our utmost to provide the fairest rates possible – Everyone deserves a fair go, and everyone deserves their day in court.
Support and Empower
TP Legal & Associates is renowned for being genuinely passionate about advocating and defending the rights of children, parents, and carers. One of our aims is to empower you via our guidance, advice, and support. We take an intelligent, careful, hard-working, and transparent approach to our legal representation, and always treat you with the respect all human beings deserve.
Our level of experience in the Children’s Court jurisdiction allows TP Legal & Associates the opportunity to take the time to explain the key stages in court proceedings, which further adds to your chances of achieving the best possible outcome. We quickly ascertain your case’s key points, understand what needs to be done, how we’re going to do it, and after preparing all of the necessary documents, represent you in court to help you resolve your dispute.
Our People
Terri Papoutsoglou
Principal lawyer
Terri Papoutsoglou is the Principal lawyer at TP Legal & Associates. Terri has over 25 years of experience in the legal industry and has a Graduate Diploma in Criminology and Applied Psychology. Terri obtained her Law degree in 2003 and shortly afterwards was admitted to practice. Terri has worked in rural and metropolitan law firms, establishing her own legal practice in 2013.
Terri has a passion for assisting vulnerable members of the community and has volunteered for many charity groups in and around St Kilda and metro Melbourne. She has a wealth of experience in the Children’s Court and is well known for her expert advocacy skills. Outside of work Terri enjoys time with her teenage son, family and friends based in and around Melbourne. When she is able to do so, Terri loves to travel to Greece to connect with her overseas family and friends while enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation time.
Aisha Kaukau
Associate lawyer
Aisha Kaukau is an Associate Lawyer with over 10 years of experience in the legal industry and offers a wealth of knowledge to her clients. She studied a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Laws at Deakin University. Aisha studied and completed her degree while caring for her daughter who was born in her second year of Law studies. After graduation Aisha studied at the Leo Cussens Institute completing a further 12 months in legal training.
Aisha is enthusiastic about assisting children and working closely with youth and their families. Being a mother herself, Aisha offers empathetic and valued insights to both children and parents. Aisha is mentored by our Principal Lawyer, Terri Papoutsoglou, and works closely assisting Terri in Child Protection and Intervention Orders (IVO) matters. Outside of work Aisha enjoys motherhood, friends, and holidays to New Zealand where she spends time with all of her extended family.
Sita Samtani
Associate lawyer
Sita Samtani is an Associate lawyer at TP Legal & Associates. Sita completed her Bachelor of Laws at Curtin University and was admitted to practise in 2018. Sita is currently completing her Masters of Law at the College of Law.
Sita began her career as a lawyer for the Aboriginal Family Legal Services in Broome, Western Australia. In this role, Sita assisted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of family violence, some of the most vulnerable people in Australia. Sita provided legal advice and representation in child protection and family matters. She also assisted clients with IVO matters.
Sita has an interest in child protection, social justice and human rights law.
Outside of work, Sita enjoys travelling, yoga, and exploring Melbourne.
Christine Politis
HR Manager
Christine Politis is TP Legal’s HR Manager. Christine completed undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Industrial Relations/Human Resource Management, at the University of Melbourne. Christine has also completed an Arts degree (Majoring in Criminology/Politics).
Christine brings a wealth of IR/HR knowledge and expertise gained in a variety of industries including: financial services, ICT, pharmaceuticals and community services. Christine’s focus is on delivering innovative IR/HR strategies, practices and initiatives that drive business performance.
Outside of work Christine enjoys Melbourne’s gastronomic delights, socialising, travelling and keeping active.
Fees
At TP Legal and Associates we are predominately a Legal Aid focused law firm. This means the majority of our clients fund our legal representation through Victoria Legal Aid.
We assist clients with their applications for Victoria Legal Aid. Our experienced administrative team is able to assess each client’s eligibility for Legal Aid on the spot. This means we can process applications immediately via our direct portal with Victoria Legal Aid. To view the current Victoria Legal Aid application form, please see below:
Victoria Legal Aid Application Form (Apply here)
If you are not eligible for Legal Aid, our law firm is happy to negotiate reasonable fees in accordance with your personal circumstances. Unlike the majority of law firms, we are willing to set a fee structure that caters to your existing financial pressures and life situation.