Ruah Legal Services (RLS) provides end-to-end legal representation integrated with psychosocial support. We also trade as the Mental Health Law Centre (MHLC), delivering legal services to clients experiencing severe mental illness. Our core practice areas include Care and Protection, Criminal Law, Restraining Orders, the Mental Health Act and Guardianship and Administration Act matters.
Ruah Legal Services is seeking a dedicated Lawyer to join our team with a full-time role available on a 12-month contract, with the opportunity for extension.
This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of vulnerable clients, with a position available providing legal representation in the areas of Criminal Law, Mental Health Act and Guardianship and Administration. As a lawyer at RLS, you will provide the provision of legal information, advice, and representation in relevant courts and tribunals.
The role involves close collaboration with social workers, support workers and other services to provide holistic and wrap-round services for clients. This role will be out and about often – not sitting in an office. You will be visiting various locations including hospitals, prisons, and Ruah’s other offices to provide timely, practical legal services. The role demands emotional resilience and excellent interpersonal skills, particularly when working with vulnerable clients facing complex challenges.
In addition to client and advocacy work, you will:
The successful applicant will be required to meet the following criteria:
The following criteria are considering desirable, but not essential:
Qualifications:
Applications will be considered as they are received. If you feel this is the perfect role for you, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible as this role will be filled once a suitable applicant is identified.
Applicants must submit the following to be considered:
- Covering letter addressing selection criteria above in no more than three A4 pages
- Copy of your CV
Closing date for applications: COB Friday, 12 June 2026.
For further information please contact Luke Cassidy, Principal Lawyer, Ruah Legal Services, at Luke.Cassidy@ruah.org.au
We are building a workplace where difference is embraced and encouraged - and to do this, we need people on our team who are representative of the clients we work with, who are passionate about change and courageous enough to stand up for what is right. Everyone is welcome. Everyone belongs.
We are committed to protecting children and young people from harm. All applicants will undergo an extensive screening process prior to appointment.
The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) has been providing outstanding care for Victoria's children and their families for over 147 years.
We are the major specialist paediatric hospital in Victoria and our care extends to children from Tasmania, southern New South Wales and other states around Australia and overseas.
With a passionate, highly skilled and committed staff campus wide of over 5,000, we provide a full range of clinical services, tertiary care and health promotion and prevention programs for children and young people.
We are the designated state-wide major trauma centre for paediatrics in Victoria and a Nationally Funded Centre for cardiac and liver transplantation.
When it comes to training and research we partner with the very best. Our campus partners, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) and The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics, along with the RCH Foundation, are on site with the hospital in Parkville. Together, we are committed to improving the health outcomes for children today and in the future.
In 2016–17, more than 85,654 children attended our Emergency Department, 322,291 specialist clinic appointments were held which was almost 70,000 more than the previous year, more than 17,000 surgeries were performed and more than 48,552 children were admitted to our wards.
