Marion Buchanan

Marion practices in criminal, family, administrative, and disability law.

She began her legal career at Dwyer Durack before moving to the ODPP where she appeared as prosecutor in all courts for pleas, sentencing, bail hearings, and as junior counsel at trial hearings.

Marion later practiced in family law in both Western Australia and Tasmania and in the community legal sector, including as the senior lawyer at the Mental Health Law Centre. In that role, she represented clients with mental impairment facing criminal charges and those opposing guardianship and administration in the State Administrative Tribunal and involuntary detention under the Mental Health Act 2014.

Immediately prior to joining the Bar Marion was principal policy adviser to the WA Attorney General (2021 – 2023) and to the Minister for Health; Minister for Mental Health (2018 – 2021). Her advisory work included electoral law, end-of-life care, palliative care, aged care, mental health, disability, guardianship and administration, and people with mental impairment in the justice system.

She was the senior adviser on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019, the principal adviser on the Criminal Law (Mental Impairment) Bill 2023, and the principal adviser and drafting instructor for the Constitutional and Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Equality) Bill 2021 and the Electoral Legislation (Finance and Other Matters) Bill 2023.

Marion completed an LLB in 2001 (UWA), a Graduate Certificate in Philosophy in 2012 (Murdoch), and a Masters of Bioethics in 2021 (Monash).