Two Victorians who are being forced to undergo "shock therapy" are horrified and terrified by the process, their lawyers have told the Supreme Court.

It is the first time Victoria's legal safeguards and protections for people facing compulsory electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) will be put to the test.

Electroconvulsive treatment involves strapping electrodes to a person's head and then sending electric shocks to the brain to treat mental illness.

Victoria Legal Aid is representing two people - known only as PBU and NJE - at a two-day hearing before Supreme Court Justice Kevin Bell.

PBU and NJE have been ordered to undergo the treatment by the Mental Health Tribunal.

"Many members of the community will be surprised to hear we still have ECT in Victoria, or that it can be ordered against people's will," Dan Nicholson from Victoria Legal Aid said.

Emrys Nekvapil outlined the case against forced ECT, citing common and statute law, as essentially one about the rights of the individual compared to the role of the Government to "provide good health" to its citizens.

"Each individual understands what it is and is horrified by it and they don't want it," Mr Nekvapil said.

"Bodily liberty ... compared to the rights of the state."

Under Victorian law, the tribunal can decide to forcibly administer ECT on someone if the patient cannot give informed consent or no other "less restrictive" treatment will work to treat their illness.

In 2015-16 the tribunal conducted 707 ECT hearings, approved 620 cases and rejected 86 cases.

"We want clarity on this," Mr Nicholson said.

Does ECT work?

The case, however, is not about stopping ECT from being used.

ECT has been found to help treat severe depression and other psychotic symptoms.

Mr Nicholson said ECT was "not the stuff of horror movies".

"It is done under medical supervision, people always have a general anaesthetic, it is done by electrodes connected to certain areas, and pulses put through," he said.

"Some find that it works, but many don't like it, and they don't consent to it."

Maggie Toko from the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council said there were side-effects, including memory loss.

"I won't say that it doesn't have a role [in modern treatment]," she said.

"There are some [patients] that chose to use ECT and it has worked for them.

"But it shouldn't be something that clinicians decide whether people go through."

Victoria Legal Aid is also concerned about the amount of care and legal representation given to patients at tribunal hearings.

Mr Nicholson said the lack of legal help might be resulting in unwanted ECT.

"There is no requirement to be legally represented," he said.

Victoria Legal Aid said it had lawyers involved in less than 8 per cent of ECT hearings, in comparison to 76 per cent in New South Wales.