Lawyer - Mental Health / Generalist

About this role

• Full time ongoing position (part-time considered)
• Salary range: $90,871 - $101,868 (pro rata) plus super plus salary packaging
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging and hybrid WFH & office model
• Location: Ringwood or Dandenong

About the role
These roles are part of a new service model that's focused on improving legal access for people receiving compulsory mental health treatment. It's a collaborative approach between VLA, Mental Health Legal Centre and Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, co-designed with people who have lived experience of the mental health system. 

We are currently recruiting for three lawyer roles that support this new model:

• Lawyer - Mental Health / Generalist, Dandenong
  You will primarily focus on legal assistance to people appearing before the Mental Health Tribunal in accordance with the Mental Health Legal Rights Service (MHLRS) model, as well as the opportunity to work across other civil, criminal and/or family violence matters.
  
  
• Lawyer - Mental Health & Child Protection, Dandenong
  Appear as a duty lawyer and case advocate in child protection and intervention order matters in the Children's Court of Victoria and in mental health law matters including at the Mental Health Tribunal.
  
  
• Lawyer - Mental Health incl Assessment Referral Court (ARC), Ringwood
  You will primarily focus on legal assistance to people appearing before the Mental Health Tribunal in accordance with the Mental Health Legal Rights Service (MHLRS) model. You will also appear as an advocate in the Assessment and Referral Court and have the opportunity to work across in other civil, criminal and/or family violence matters.

These roles will provide you with an opportunity to work across connected legal issues impacting our clients and help improve access to justice for clients experiencing disadvantage in the community. 

These roles are based at our Dandenong office on Bunurong Country or Ringwood office on Wurundjeri Country.

About you

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Demonstrated advocacy experience across at least one of the key practice areas, with the ability and willingness to work across others.
• An understanding of mental health or disability law, and a commitment to trauma-informed and client-centred practice
• Strong understanding of Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (for the Dandenong Mental Health & Child Protection Role), and related legal frameworks.
• High-level communication skills and the ability to build rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds, including people with disability, mental health issues, and children.
• An understanding of the issues impacting First Nations peoples and communities from diverse backgrounds.
• A collaborative approach and proven ability to work in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• A current Australian practising certificate which entitles you to practise in Victoria as a government legal practitioner (mandatory).

Don't meet every requirement? At VLA, we understand that your work and life experiences can be just as valuable. If you're excited about this role but your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or one of our many other opportunities.

About Victoria Legal Aid
We provide legal representation to those who need it most. With over 1400 staff employed in 16 offices across Victoria, we help people with their legal problems by providing information, advice and education with a focus on the prevention and early resolution of legal problems.

Our clients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds and foster a work culture that's inclusive as well as diverse. Your unique ideas and perspectives are valued so that we best represent the people we serve.

Employee benefits

• Focus on work-life balance including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model
• Training and professional development opportunities
• Excellent salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 and Novated Leasing
• Access to discounted Private Health Insurance

How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter indicating which of the three roles you are applying for.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or need an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our team.

For further information, please review the attached position description or contact Robbert Roos, Deputy Managing Lawyer, Ringwood on (03) 9259 5430 or Monique Joyce, Deputy Managing Lawyer, Dandenong on (03) 9280 3869 or recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 14 July 2025.

Other relevant information
It is a requirement that staff attend for office-based days at their primary work location. In line with this requirement, interstate applications will be considered only where the candidate is able and willing to relocate to Victoria, unless part of a border community.

VLA is committed to putting the safety and wellbeing of children first.