Victoria Appoints Three New Magistrates

The Victorian Government has appointed three new magistrates, whose skills and experience will provide significant support to the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes today congratulated Helen Dale, Rachael Hopkins and Carrie O’Shea on their appointments.

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.

Mrs Dale holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Police Studies from Deakin University.

Ms Hopkins brings more than five years of experience working for the Magistrates’ Court. She worked as general manager of the Drug Court since 2020, successfully leading the regional expansion into Shepparton and Ballarat. Before this, she 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 brings more than 17 years’ experience in the Victorian justice system. She was also a sessional tribunal member at the Mental Health Tribunal of Victoria since 2023.

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.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes

"These new magistrates bring experience from different legal backgrounds, making them valuable additions to Victoria’s court system."

"A bench with a range of skills is essential to a fair and accessible justice system for all Victorians."