About us

QAI’s mission is to promote, protect and defend, through advocacy, the fundamental needs and right and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland. 

About the role

QAI is looking for two Mental Health Solicitors to join QAI’s Mental Health Legal Service on a full-time basis. 

QAI is a thriving systems and legal advocacy organisation dedicated to the promotion, protection and defence of the fundamental needs and rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland. 

QAI provides legal services in mental health and human rights law and non-legal advocacy services in NDIS, education advocacy, Disability Royal Commission and criminal justice matters. We also publish and educate in our fields of expertise to empower clients and their supports to self-advocate, and consider law reform and challenging systems as one of our primary purposes. It is an exciting time for disability advocacy in Queensland, with the commencement of the Disability Royal Commission and implementation of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld). 

The advertised roles are for two Mental Health Solicitors. We are keen to receive applications from solicitors with at least two years Post Admission Experience who might be interested in working with QAI with particular interests in Disability, Mental Health and Human Rights. 

The salary for the positions are remunerated at SCHADS Award, level 6, subject to experience and include advantageous salary sacrifice and flexible working arrangement options. 

The positions are supervised by the Principal Solicitors. 

The functions of the roles include: 

• Provide legal advice and casework within the scope of QAI’s legal services, including in relation to the Mental Health Act 2016 (Qld), the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) and Forensic Disability Act 2011 (Qld), with representation before the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Mental Health Court Queensland as required. 
• Working with other members of the Mental Health Legal Service.
• Reporting to QAI’s Management Committee and contributing to preparation of the annual report. 

Additionally, the roles include opportunities to work with team members: 

• Collaboration with systems advocates supporting law reform activities; and 
• Representing QAI at conferences, meetings and other events. 

The successful applicants will be experienced solicitors with at least two years Post Admission Experience and an unrestricted Practising Certificate, able to demonstrate the following selection criteria: 

1. Commitment to social justice principles including the promotion and protection of the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. 
2. Excellent legal, advocacy and negotiation skills. 
3. Strong organisation and administrative skills, ensuring sustainable, responsive and developing service delivery. 
4. Advice and casework experience with knowledge in relevant areas of law, or an ability to quickly acquire knowledge, working strategically, innovatively, and efficiently in complex matters to achieve outcomes. 
5. Strong interpersonal relationship and communication skills, and demonstrated success in leadership, supervision and teamwork, including collaboration with external stakeholders. 
6. Excellent written and oral communication skills to a wide variety of audiences, including to people with mental illness, intellectual disability and cognitive impairment. 
7. Ability to take initiative and identify opportunities, while at the same time analyse and understand risk, in accordance with the goals and decision-making framework of the organisation. 
8. Driven by integrity, responsibility, accountability, attention to detail and pride in work. 
9. Prior experience in the disability, mental health or social services sectors would be advantageous. 
10. Current driver’s licence as travel is required as part of this role. 
11. It is a requirement that all practitioners appearing in the MHRT meet the Department of Health Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) screening requirements by 30 September 2020. Documentation confirming the successful applicant has been vaccinated against or is not susceptible to the following VPD’s is required: Hepatitis B; Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chicken Pox); and Pertussis (Whooping Cough). 

A position description is attached.

Any questions should be addressed to Carly Dennis, Principal Solicitor at QAI, Tel: 3844 4200 and/or email [email protected] using the subject line: Mental Health Solicitor enquiry via EthicalJobs.