Janine McIlwraith
Principal Solicitor

Janine holds a Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science, Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, and a Master of Laws. Before commencing her career in law, Janine worked as a health professional in public and private hospitals in Australia and abroad for almost 10 years.

Since commencing her career in law Janine has worked almost exclusively in the health and medical law arena. Originally admitted to practice in NSW, Janine moved to Victoria in 2015 and was admitted to practice here. Janine has extensive experience in all aspects of medical litigation and has worked for both large and small firms.

Janine has co-authored two prominent medical law texts, Health Care and the Law (4th, 5th & 6th editions) and Australian Medical Liability (1st & 2nd & the recently released 3rd editions). In addition, Janine co-authored the National Disability Insurance Scheme Handbook and has written and edited a number of chapters for Halsbury’s Laws of Australia focusing on professional negligence and professional registration in the health arena and is also the author of the chapter on surrogacy. Janine is also the general editor for Australian Civil Liability Bulletin.

Janine has taught Medical Law and Public Health Law at the University of Western Sydney and also taught Health Law to Masters and JD students at Monash University. Janine has also held the role of an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of New England where her work focused on the NDIS.

Janine is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (and sits on the NDIS special interest committee), the Medico-Legal Society of Victoria and the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law.

Janine is regularly invited to speak and chair at conferences both nationally and internationally. She is also a regular contributor to industry journals.

Janine is a proponent of social justice and does not shy away from difficult cases. She enjoys working with clients to achieve the best possible outcomes. She is committed to providing clients with access to justice in a world where corporations and the wealthy seem to have an advantage.

Outside of work, Janine is busy raising a family and a menagerie of pets, renovating her home and fostering rescue dogs until they find their forever home.