Expired Foundation Course – London, 18 May 2015

This course is aimed at new practitioners and those intending to attend the Panel course in the near future. Attendance at the Foundation course is strongly recommended in order to achieve a sound understanding of the basic principles of mental health law, practice and procedure and in order to achieve the most from the two-day Panel course, which is a pre-requisite for application to The Law Society’s mental health panel.

The course

The foundation course takes an interactive approach. It covers the basics of mental health law, Legal Aid, and running a mental health file.

Our presenters include Tribunal judges, Law Society assessors, LAA peer reviewers and costs assessors, and other experienced solicitors with a wealth of practical experience of representing patients at Mental Health Tribunals.

Cost

• MHLA members: £150
• Non-members: £195

Time

9.30am-5.00pm

CPD

6 SRA-accredited hours

Refreshments, but not lunch, will be provided.

Outline Programme –
MHLA Foundation Course Representing Detained Patients

Speakers (subject to change) : Sarah Burke, Neil Cronin, Tam Gill, Jonathan Wilson

1. Introduction to mental health legislation – the historical perspective

2. What does it mean to be “sectioned” – basic sections: definitions, statute and procedure relating to s.1, s.2, s.3, s.37/41, s.17, s.17A, s.72. s.73; Consent to Treatment provisions; Nearest Relatives

3. Legal Aid – how to complete CW1/2 forms; CLR

4. Running a mental health file – including the day to day life of a mental health lawyer, best practice in conducting a case file from start to finish including taking instructions, giving advice, case preparation and representation

5. What is a MHT – why could the patient need representation? – including ethical considerations, capacity, MHT procedure

6. What is a HMH – why could the patient need representation? – including renewal, applications, “powers”, merits of a HMH

7. What is a CPA – why could the patient need representation? – including LAA considerations etc, purpose of CPA, role of the legal representative

8. Q&A / Plenary session