MENTAL HEALTH LAW CENTRE / RUAH LEGAL SERVICES The Mental Health Law Centre provides free advice and representation for people with legal problems directly related to their mental illness.
255 Hay Street, Subiaco East 6008 mhlcwa.org.au fhr@ruah.org.au
Do you have opportunities for What does your recruitment/ courtroom work/advocacy? interview process consist of?
We run a few intake sessions each year, potential volunteers will need to submit a completed application form, their current resume, transcript of results and a What are the skills/benefits of cover letter. Which areas of law will clerks taking a position at your CLC? If successful, they will attend the be exposed to? • Fantastic opportunity to gain interview and then if successful • Criminal law. experience dealing with they will attend the induction clients directly. day and begin volunteering from • Administration law. • Managing difficult clients will there on. • Mental health law.
Volunteering
Our volunteers can shadow our lawyers when attending the Magistrates Court but do not represent our clients.
significantly increase people Roughly how many positions management skills. What kind of tasks do student are available for students in volunteers undertake? • Working on open files and 2022? learning new aspects of the • Administrative tasks. 20-30. law. • Our volunteers run our Telephone Advice Line and Do you offer any opportunities What attributes do you look to do PLT? take all new intake calls. for in an applicant? Yes. • Provide sufficient referrals • Accurate data entry skills. where our centre cannot • Pays close attention to detail. assist. • Professional communication • Liaise with mental health skills. teams to best assist our clients. How can students apply?
Applications
• Shadow our lawyers when Email to Mhari Grant at fhr@ruah. • Emotional resilience. org.au or mhari.grant@ruah.org. they go to court. What advice do you have for au • Draft legal advice letters. students looking to apply? • Contact clients to gather Please ensure you are aware of information for our lawyers. our practice areas before you apply.
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