Mental Health Review Tribunal
Introduction
Mental Health Review Tribunals are independent judicial bodies that operate under the provisions of the Mental Health Act 1983.
The main function of the tribunals is to review the cases of compulsorily detained patients and decide whether or not such patients can be discharged.
To connect you with the legal advice you need, the Law Society operates the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme.
Solicitors and solicitors' employees who are on this scheme can, at tribunal hearings, advise and represent patients who have been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Many members of the scheme are also able to offer legal advice and assistance in other related areas of the law affecting mental illness and incapacitated persons – in wills and probate, Court of Protection cases and powers of attorney.
Only legal practitioners who meet the Law Society's strict requirements are permitted to join the scheme. When you see the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme logo, you'll know that the practitioner's skills, knowledge and experience have been rigorously and independently assessed.
Information for prospective members
Solicitors, legal executives, trainee solicitors and solicitors' clerks can apply for membership.
Anyone who applies for membership of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme is required to apply for an enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). We will provide you with a CRB enhanced disclosure application form and detailed instructions on how to apply.
In order to become members, practitioners must:
- complete a detailed application
- attend a compulsory training course
- satisfy specific experience and knowledge criteria
- be interviewed by two experienced solicitor members of the scheme and be recommended for membership by the interviewers
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme, please download:
- Professional accreditation schemes: application criteria and guidance notes (PDF, 86kb)
- Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme criteria and guidance notes (PDF, 84kb)
- Up-to-date fee schedule (PDF, 74kb)
The above documents contain comprehensive information about applying for membership.
If you have any queries about scheme membership requirements, contact the Accreditation Team (t: 0870 606 2566).
Detailed information
Only approved course providers are permitted to offer the training course that must be completed by all Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme applicants.
The Law Society has issued written guidelines for mental health legal practitioners who conduct representation at tribunals.
Scheme members must complete continuing professional development (CPD) activities as outlined in the Solicitors Regulation Authority's CPD requirements.
If you are already a scheme member, view information about maintaining membership, known as re-accreditation.Useful links
Tribunals Service – Mental Health Review Tribunal
Mental Health Review Tribunals are operated and administered by the Tribunals Service, which is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. Download Tribunals Service contact information (PDF, 28kb).
The Mental Health Lawyers Association (MHLA) represents about half of all mental health legal practitioners in the United Kingdom.
The Law Society has a dedicated website for accreditation scheme members which offers secure access to the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme logo.
Find a scheme member
To search by postcode or location for solicitors' firms with a Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme member, click the link below.
When the search screen opens, enter your postcode or location, specify any further criteria (for example, wheelchair access), and click Search.
Search by postcode for firms with Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme members
- Firms are listed in ascending distance order (in miles) from your specified postcode or location.
- To consult firm details, click on the name of the firm.
Approved course providers
The training course that must be completed by all applicants for membership of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme is exclusively offered by three course providers:
- Central Law Training
- Legal Action Group
- Peter Edwards Law Training
Download contact details of approved course providers (PDF, 25kb).
Contact providers direct for course dates and enrolment information.
Representation at tribunals
The Law Society's Mental Health and Disability Committee offers guidelines (PDF, 61kb) designed to help solicitors, legal executives, trainee solicitors and solicitors' clerks who represent patients before Mental Health Review Tribunals.
As tribunal work is not exclusive to scheme members, the guidelines are also potentially of assistance to other legal representatives.
Mental Health Review Tribunal application forms
Download standardised forms to be used by legal representatives in applications to the Mental Health Review Tribunals (MHRT), Department of Health:
- Application form – non-restricted patient (PDF 33kb, DOC 64kb)
- Application form – restricted patient (PDF 29kb, DOC 56kb)
- Application form – section 2 patient (PDF 30kb, DOC 58kb)
An MHRT communication (PDF, 32kb) dated 28 October 2005 explains the need for solicitors and other legal representatives to utilise the above forms.
Download up-to-date MHRT contact information (PDF, 28kb).
Continuing professional development
The Law Society requires all Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme members to familiarise themselves closely with changes in law, practice and procedure by undertaking continuing professional development (CPD) activities every year.
For the purposes of re-accreditation, we require you to provide us with details of all CPD training you have completed during the period of your scheme membership.Re-accreditation
Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme membership doesn't last for ever: every three years, it must be renewed. The process is called re-accreditation.
Re-accreditation is a way of assuring consumers that members of the Mental Health Review Tribunal Accreditation Scheme always meet the requirements for membership.
Please contact the Accreditation Unit for information about re-accreditation.