Our Team

Joel Orenstein is recognised as a premier expert in child protection, family violence and youth crime law and practice in Victoria.

Joel is principal and founder of Orenstein Lawyers Pty Ltd, a specialist children’s and criminal law legal practice which has been providing dedicated services to vulnerable communities across regional and metro Victoria since 2009.

Joel has been a Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law since 2014, is a member of the LIV Specialisation Committee, and is Chair of the Child and Youth Issues Committee at the Law Institute of Victoria.

Joel has extensive experience working with First Nations families and vulnerable communities and provides training, advice and advocacy in relation to justice issues, particularly in regards to child protection and youth crime.

Dedicated to social justice, Joel has been involved in multiple law reform campaigns and advocacy. He holds a Master’s degree in law from the Australian National University and is a member of the Victoria Legal Aid panels in Child Protection, Summary Crime and Family Violence.

Jacob is an experienced lawyer and advocate. He joined Orenstein lawyers in April 2019 and now manages the criminal law practice of the firm.

He has appeared extensively in the Children’s Court, Magistrates Court, County Court, Supreme Court and Koori Courts in all regions of Victoria.

Jacob is a LIV Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law and member of the exclusive Legal Aid panels in indictable, youth and summary crime. He also practices in Child protection and Intervention Order matters.

He is passionate about social justice and works tirelessly to ensure that his client’s rights are upheld. Jacob was admitted to practice in 2014 having completed a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Arts at Latrobe University. He also holds a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Leo Cussen Institute of Law.

Janelle Cooper is an experienced and passionate lawyer and advocate based at our Warrnambool office.

Janelle appears in all criminal, child protection and intervention order matters and regularly appears in contested bail and emergency care applications across South-West Victoria.

Janelle holds a Bachelor of Legal Studies and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Latrobe University, and Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Australian National University.

Dedicated to excellence and social justice, Janelle has worked in Child Protection, Family Law and Criminal Law jurisdictions across Victoria since being admitted to legal practice in 2013.

Janelle is a member of the Victoria Legal Aid panels in Child Protection and Family Violence.

Shannon graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts/Laws in 2018, and received her Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from Leo Cussen Institute of Law in the same year.
In August of 2019 Shannon was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court and appears daily in the Children’s and Magistrates’ Courts.

Shannon works primarily in the area of Child Protection and youth crime and has a passion for advocacy, social justice and equal representation, ensuring that all clients are treated with dignity, respect and compassion.

Shannon is a member of the Victoria Legal Aid panels in Child Protection and Family Violence.

Tim is our practice manager. Tim’s career has spanned a diverse range of fields having worked in IT, the not-for-profit sector, education and training, youth and community work and now in the law. He is a passionate and experienced business manager and team leader with a unique mix of people, system and technical skills.