The state government has appointed three new magistrates.
On Tuesday, Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes announced Helen Dale, Rachael Hopkins and Carrie O’Shea would be appointed to magistrates’ and children’s courts.
“These new magistrates bring experience from different legal backgrounds, making them valuable additions to Victoria’s court system,” said Ms Symes announcing the appointments.
“A bench with a range of skills is essential to a fair and accessible justice system for all Victorians.”
Mrs Dale joins the children’s court with more than 14 years of experience, having most recently worked as the principal solicitor at Dale and Younis Legal since 2021, and at Dale Legal from 2015 to 2021.
She holds a bachelor of laws and a bachelor of police studies from Deakin University.
Ms Hopkins has five years of experience working for the magistrates’ court and worked as general manager of the drug court since 2020 and before this was a senior policy and project officer at the court from 2019 to 2020.
She was admitted to practice in 2011 and holds a master of laws, a bachelor of laws, and a bachelor of arts (honours).
Ms O’Shea was most recently the associate director of summary crime at Victoria Legal Aid and has more than 17 years’ experience in the Victorian justice system.
She was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2006 and holds a bachelor of laws (honours) and a bachelor of arts from the University of Melbourne.
