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Mental Health Law Online
The internet resource on mental health law, and mental capacity law, for England & Wales. You can sign up for free email updates, the online forum and the CPD scheme (which provides 12 hours for £75 and is suitable for lawyers and non-lawyers). You can advertise your job vacancies and events here, or browse the bookshop. The main content of this website has been divided into Case law (2475), Legislation (391) and Resources (1,121), together with separate Information pages (334) to link everything together.
Forum topics
Contacts
The Magic Book is a database of contact details which currently contains 317 pages. Add or view contacts.
News and updates
All the latest updates to the website can be seen on on the MHLO updates forum category. The most recent appears here.
- 12/06/25: Case (Advance decision to refuse treatment). Re AB (ADRT: Validity and applicability) [2025] EWCOP 20 (T3) — "This case demonstrates difficulties that can arise when: (a) An individual who has made an ADRT does not provide it to a healthcare professional or make clear arrangements for it to be brought to the attention of clinicians in the event that they lose capacity to make decisions about their own medical treatment. (b) The authenticity, validity and applicability of an apparent ADRT are the subject of dispute amongst the individual's loved ones and family. (c) An ADRT which is the subject of dispute or doubt is not brought promptly to the attention of lawyers, Mental Capacity Act specialists, or the Court of Protection."
Consultations
No open consultations.
To do
A glimpse into the to do list:
- 12/06/25: Health Services Safety Investigations Body - Mental health inpatient settings: overarching report of investigations directed by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 13/05/2025 https://www.hssib.org.uk/patient-safety-investigations/mental-health-inpatient-settings/fifth-investigation-report/
Email updates
Choose occasional and/or monthly update emails. To sign up, please go to the email updates subscription page.
CPD
The CPD scheme is primarily aimed at mental health solicitors, and is an ideal way to evidence your continued competence, but is also suitable for barristers, psychiatrists, social workers and psychiatric nurses. For £75, you can obtain 12 CPD credits.
Jobs
Events
Advertise your events here
- MHLA: Panel course (London and online, 24-25 June 2025)
- MHLA: Advocacy, Risk and Cross-Examination Masterclass (London, 3 July 2025)
- MHLA: Conducting face-to-face hearings and basic case law for tribunals (Leeds, 9 September 2025)
- MHLA: Refresher and Re-accreditation course (online, 15 September 2025)
- MHLA: Foundation course (London, 7 October 2025)
- MHLA: Refresher and Re-accreditation course (online, 27 October 2025)
Books
Please support MHLO by clicking Amazon or Bookshop.org before you buy books (or, in Amazon's case, anything). View all books...