About Ruah Legal Services

Ruah Legal Services is a state-wide community legal assistance service incorporating the Mental Health Law Centre (MHLC), Western Australia's only specialist community legal service supporting people experiencing mental health issues.

For more than 20 years, the MHLC has championed access to justice for vulnerable and disadvantaged people navigating complex legal systems. Today, through Ruah Legal Services, we provide legal advice, advocacy and representation in mental health, family and domestic violence, care and protection, guardianship and administration, and related legal matters.

What makes us different is our integrated approach. As part of Ruah, our clients can access expert legal support alongside a broad range of community services, ensuring people receive genuinely wraparound support to address both their legal and social needs.

At Ruah Legal Services, we're committed to creating meaningful change for individuals while contributing to broader social justice and law reform outcomes across Western Australia.

About the Role

Ruah Legal Services is seeking a Senior Policy Lawyer to lead policy, law reform, stakeholder engagement, and community legal education initiatives across our key practice areas of mental health, family and domestic violence, and care and protection law.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced lawyer to influence policy and systemic advocacy while remaining connected to frontline legal practice and the communities most affected by legal disadvantage.

Working closely with the Principal Lawyer, Project Worker, legal practitioners, and multidisciplinary teams across Ruah, you will identify emerging legal and policy issues, develop submissions and advocacy positions, coordinate community legal education activities, and represent Ruah Legal Services across government, legal, and community sector forums.

You will play a key role in ensuring client experiences inform systemic advocacy and law reform efforts, while helping strengthen Ruah Legal Services' profile and influence across the sector.

In this role you will:

• Lead and contribute to policy and law reform initiatives.
• Prepare submissions, briefing papers, advocacy materials, and community resources.
• Coordinate and deliver community legal education and training.
• Collaborate with legal and community service teams to support integrated, client-centred outcomes.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government, legal, and community stakeholders.
• Represent Ruah Legal Services on committees, working groups, and sector forums.
• Provide specialist legal expertise through resource development, technical guidance, and support with complex legal matters.

This is a part-time permanent position working 3 days per week.

What We're Looking For

To be successful, you will demonstrate:

• Admission as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
• A current Western Australian Practising Certificate, or the ability to obtain and maintain one.
• At least 4 years' post-admission experience.
• Experience in policy development, law reform, community legal education, and/or systemic advocacy.
• Strong advocacy skills, including experience appearing before Courts and Tribunals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare submissions, reports, presentations, and stakeholder communications.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective stakeholder relationships.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• A commitment to social justice and improving outcomes for vulnerable members of the community.
• A willingness to work within and contribute to Ruah Legal Services' vision, mission, and values.

Desirable:

• Experience in community legal practice, particularly in mental health, family and domestic violence, care and protection, or guardianship matters.
• Experience delivering community legal education or training.
• Knowledge of diversity, social inclusion, and culturally responsive practice.
• Understanding of the issues affecting people experiencing mental health challenges, homelessness, family violence, and other forms of disadvantage.

What We Offer

• A rare opportunity to influence law reform and policy development in a highly respected community legal service.
• Part-time flexibility with a permanent 3-day-per-week arrangement.
• 5 weeks annual leave plus 17.5% annual leave loading.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave, with the option to take leave at half pay over 32 weeks.
• Salary packaging benefits, including:
• Up to $15,900 tax-free salary packaging.
• Up to $2,650 in meal entertainment packaging.
• Additional packaging options for travel, accommodation, parking, education expenses and more.
• Free Employee Assistance Program for you and your family.
• Free Ruah-paid Journey Cover.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• A diverse, inclusive and values-driven workplace where difference is celebrated.
• Opportunities to participate in Pride events, reconciliation initiatives, employee-led working groups, and other activities that shape our culture and community.

Required Compliance Documents

• Current Driver's Licence.
• National Police Clearance Certificate.
• Current Western Australian Practising Certificate.

How to Apply

We'd love to hear from you.

Please click 'Apply Now', create your LiveHire profile, and submit your current CV together with a cover letter (maximum two pages) outlining your suitability for the role.

Please note: Applications may be reviewed, and the advertisement may close prior to the closing date.

For further information, please contact the Ruah Talent Team at [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Policy Lawyer enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.