Telephone Advice Line Lawyer

About Ruah

Ruah is a leading values-driven employer in Western Australia’s community services sector. Our staff go boldly, not just supporting people in need, but working to end homelessness, end domestic violence and create opportunities for people struggling with poverty and mental health challenges.

Our professional team of operational and corporate services staff is backed by one of WA’s biggest Peer support workforces. Our staff reflect our commitment to diversity and inclusion, where difference is valued, celebrated and embraced.

By choosing to work with us, you are helping transform the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community.

Ruah Legal Services specialises in the provision of end-to-end legal representation with integrated psycho-social support. Ruah Legal Services trades as the Mental Health Law Centre (MHLC) for the provision of legal services to clients experiencing severe mental illness. Key practice areas include the Mental Health Act, Criminal Law, Care and Protection, and Guardianship and Administration Act matters. Ruah Legal Services also provides legal assistances to victim-survivors of sexual assault through the SALSWA project, and to women experiencing family and domestic violence through Ruah Community Services programs.

About the Role

For Ruah Legal Services, our volunteer-staffed Telephone Advice Line (TAL) is at the forefront of our engagement with clients. The Telephone Advice Line (TAL) Lawyer role is a key service delivery role responsible for the achieving outcomes to clients through an effective Telephone Advice Line (TAL). Supported by Legal Admin Officers, the TAL functions as the central entry point for enquiries, client intakes, and the provision of discrete legal advice.

The TAL Lawyer supervises law-student volunteers and legal admin staff in their delivery of legal information and referrals, supports volunteers as they conduct client intake interviews and fields requests for legal advice. In cases where volunteers draft written legal advice, the TAL lawyer will review the advice and ensure appropriate delivery to the client.

The TAL is a key service for clients in Regional, Remote and Rural (RRR) areas of WA to access legal information and advice. A high proportion of TAL enquiries concern involuntary treatment orders and as such, the TAL lawyer will have a special focus on the Mental Health Act. The TAL lawyer will hold a small case load of matters before the Mental Health Tribunal, particularly focused on clients in RRR regions, with representation occurring via video-link.

If you are keen to facilitate state-wide service delivery and to mentor and train law students, this is the role for you! Liaising with universities, recruitment and the ongoing training of volunteers is a key focus of the role. The TAL lawyer ensures volunteers are trained in relevant areas of law, service delivery and in communicating with clients and other stakeholders in a trauma-informed, professional manner.

To be successful in this role you will be expected to apply your legal expertise, communication skills and passion for training and development to build and sustain a high performing team that effectively responds to and addresses client issues. 

This is a full-time fixed term position on a 12 month contract, with the possibility of converting to permanency.

What we’re looking for

The successful applicants will be required to meet the following criteria:

• Be admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and hold an unrestricted practicing certificate.
• Expertise in the Mental Health Act 2014 or willingness to develop expertise.
• High level of communication skills and ability to engage with a challenging client group. 
• Experience in providing training and feedback to legal staff and/or volunteers.
• Confident public speaking and presentation style. 
• Demonstrated experience with Client Management Systems (CMS) and/or database management.
• Significant understanding of, and commitment to the Purpose, Vision and Values of Ruah.

The following criteria are considered desirable:

• Experience in leading a successful volunteer team.
• Experience working on a Telephone Advice Line.
• Experience working with people experiencing mental illness.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of diversity and social inclusion- including gender, sexuality, disability, cultural, age, and linguistic diversity and Aboriginal culture.

What do we offer?

• Competitive annual salary commensurate with post admission experience
• 5 weeks annual leave.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave, with flexibility to take at 32 weeks half-pay (uniquely, new staff can access 4 weeks paid parental leave after just 6 months’ service). 
• Free, independent and confidential access for you to our Employee Assistance Program.
• Free Ruah-paid Journey Cover (insurance for when you're getting to and from work).
• Incredibly valuable Salary Packaging (to extend your take home pay) with:
• up to $15,900 core packaging
• an additional $2,650 in meal entertainment packaging
• benefits for salary packaging travel, accommodation, parking fees, education expenses and more!
• Opportunities to be active in the Ruah Community such as participating in a wide range of working groups, joining us at Pride events, being a part of a range of cultural events to promote and support reconciliation and much, much more! 

Required compliance documents:

• National Police Clearance Certificate

How to apply 

We’d love to hear from you!

Please click apply, create your LiveHire profile, and submit your current CV along with a cover letter of no more than two pages, helping us understand your fit for this role.

Closing date for applications: 3 February 2025.

For further information please contact legalservices@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.