Criminal/Generalist Lawyer

First Step Legal (FSL) started over 10 years ago as a Health Justice Partnership (HJP) within First Step, a not-for-profit mental health and addiction clinic in St Kilda. 

FSL is a unique Community Legal Centre providing pro bono legal advice, casework, and representation to among the most marginalised in the community. In recent years FSL’s services have expanded significantly to incorporate health justice partnerships with five organisations: the First Step mental health and addiction clinic; Windana’s residential drug treatment program; the Alfred Health’s community mental health outpatient clinic; Better Health Network’s Family Violence Program; and Launch Housing across two sites being East St Kilda and South Melbourne.

FSL is NAS-accredited and a member of the Federation of Community Legal Centres. FSL only receives referrals from our HJP partners. FSL prioritises its casework to focus on clients who are genuinely engaged or wanting to be engaged in treatment, recovery and therapeutic interventions that will support their ongoing wellbeing. 

FSL practices predominantly in relation to criminal law and family violence (both victims and perpetrators), as well as conducting casework in family law, infringements, and victims of crime. Many of our clients have several different legal matters meaning we provide both limited assistance – including discrete advice or a supported referral may be provided in some areas of law, (e.g., tenancy, debt) – and secondary consultations with clinicians at our five HJPs, which may include referrals for clients with other legal matters.

FSL currently comprises a small close-knit team including its Director, Tania Wolff, who is currently LIV President, a Principal Lawyer (Crime/Family Violence), a Criminal-Generalist Lawyer (Crime/Family Violence/VOCAT/Infringements), a Family /Family Violence Lawyer. Our lawyers are supported by three legal case managers, an administrator, a practice manager and several volunteer paralegals and lawyers.