Former Tasmanian school students are suing the Marist Fathers for hundreds of thousands of dollars over historical sexual abuse that occurred in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Key points: The ABC understands two law firms are fielding inquiries from more than 20 Tasmanians looking to sue the Marist Fathers

The ABC understands two law firms are fielding inquiries from more than 20 Tasmanians looking to sue the Marist Fathers Five former staff members associated with the Marist College in Burnie have been convicted of historical sex offences

Five former staff members associated with the Marist College in Burnie have been convicted of historical sex offences One lawyer has described it as "one of the worst cases of institutional abuse in Australia'

Two law firms are looking into launching a suite of cases.

The ABC understands more than 20 people are seeking legal advice.

They include one student who said he was caned 107 times in one week, and sexually abused more than 50 times.

"I dug trenches until my hands bled, but by far the worst part was the sexual abuse," James, whose name has been changed for legal reasons, said.

"The bastardisation that went on there. I look on it as a prison camp, the possible only difference is we weren't starved."

Numerous former students of Burnie's Marist College have shared their stories with the ABC. ( Supplied )

He said his time at the college was like a "prison sentence".

"I couldn't tell anyone — not my partner, friends, not my children," he said.

"Because of the recurring nightmares and the thoughts of the shocking life you lived there you turn to alcohol."

'One of the worst cases of institutional abuse in Australia'

Jason Parkinson says the victims include both male and female former students. ( ABC News: Craig Heerey )

Jason Parkinson, a senior lawyer at the Canberra-based Porters Lawyers, said the scale of sexual abuse in regional Tasmania was "horrific".

"The Burnie Regional College case is one of the worst cases of institutional abuse in Australia," Mr Parkinson, who specialises in sexual abuse cases, said.

Five staff members associated with Marist College have been convicted over sex offences, they are: Stephen Grant Randell, found guilty in 1999 on 15 charges of indecent assault against nine girls between 1981-1982

Stephen Grant Randell, found guilty in 1999 on 15 charges of indecent assault against nine girls between 1981-1982 Paul Ronald Goldsmith, jailed for more than six years in 2005 on 42 sex offences against 20 boys aged between 13-16. He died in Tanzania in 2016

Paul Ronald Goldsmith, jailed for more than six years in 2005 on 42 sex offences against 20 boys aged between 13-16. He died in Tanzania in 2016 Gregory Laurence Ferguson, who taught at the college in the 1970s, sentenced to five years' prison in 2007 after two separate convictions

Gregory Laurence Ferguson, who taught at the college in the 1970s, sentenced to five years' prison in 2007 after two separate convictions Roger Michael Bellemore sentenced to four years' prison in 2008 after being convicted of assaulting three students between 1966 and 1971

Roger Michael Bellemore sentenced to four years' prison in 2008 after being convicted of assaulting three students between 1966 and 1971 Thomas Fulcher, sentenced to four years' prison in December 2018, two without parole, after admitting to sexually abusing two former students

Five staff associated with Burnie's Marist Regional College have been sent to prison on sex offences.

Porters Lawyers are in discussions with more than a dozen former students of Tasmanian Marist schools who are considering civil litigation.

They include women who were young girls at the time of the abuse.

"A lot of male boarders were assaulted, they were essentially stuck because they were away from home," Mr Parkinson said.

"There are many female victims as well, and when you put those two together it is just a horror scene.

"Sadly, I expect there will be more cases."

Redress scheme 'flawed': lawyer

James is one of several more Tasmanians who have engaged another major law firm, Maurice Blackburn, to lodge cases in recent weeks.

The firm's head of abuse law, Michelle James, said flaws in Australia's redress scheme were pushing people to common law cases.

"The redress scheme is simply not fit for purpose, it is a flawed process," she said.

Michelle James says common law cases can offer more to victims than the redress scheme. ( Supplied: Maurice Blackburn )

Ms James said unlike the redress scheme, there was no cap on damages in civil litigation cases.

"The damages are calculated on an individual basis and that's a key difference for common law claims as redress, they're calculated according to what the injury has caused the abused person to suffer, including lost income, and paying for psychiatric treatments past and future," she said.

The redress cap is $150,000.

Marist Fathers Vicar Provincial Peter McMurrich said the Marist order remained willing to deal with survivors of sexual abuse at their schools.

"The Marist Fathers remain willing to deal with survivors of child sexual abuse in our schools either in the Redress Scheme or the civil litigation space or through Towards Healing or by direct approach," he said.

"We seek to deal with these matters in a survivor-focused, fair, just and reasonable way in whatever space might suit the particular survivor."

For James, the impending court case will be about bringing closure to dark memories.

"I'm seeking a closure to the whole thing and justice and also hoping that others know that that's there and it may give them closure and may take a weight off their mind. I hope that eventuates with me," he said.