Lawyer - Mental Health

About this role

• Full time ongoing position
• Salary range: $90,871 - $104,924 plus super
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging, flexible hybrid work arrangement

About the role
This role is 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. 

As a Lawyer - Mental Health incl Assessment Referral Court (ARC), 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.

This role 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. 

The Ringwood Office is one of VLA's largest metropolitan offices, providing services to Heidelberg and Ringwood Magistrates Courts, the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and various outreach services. The office is home to approximately 65 staff members and enjoys an excellent workplace culture.

This role is based at our 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
• 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 your CV doesn't align perfectly with our job description, we strongly encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate.

About VLA
We offer legal representation, family dispute resolution and non-legal advocacy 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

• A focus on work-life balance, including flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid work from home & office model 
• Generous leave benefits, including:
  • Three days paid seasonal leave (to be taken between Boxing Day and New Year's Day public holidays)
  • Paid gender affirmation leave
  • Five days both paid reproductive and fertility leave per calendar year
• Annual 3% salary increase each December plus performance-related salary incentives
• Attractive salary packaging options including General Expenses up to $15,900, Meals & Entertainment up to $2,650 PLUS Novated Leasing
• Individual learning and professional development opportunities, tailored to your role and career goals
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program, including confidential counselling and access to a range of mental health and wellbeing resources.

How to apply
To be considered for this role, please submit your current resume and a cover letter.

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 recruitment@vla.vic.gov.au.

No agency applications will be accepted.

Applications close by 11.59pm on Monday 1 June 2026.

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.