Mental Health Law Solicitors

Legal help for patients and families affected by mental health legislation.

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How can our specialist Mental Health solicitors help you?

Based in Aldershot, Hampshire, we have a dedicated team of around 40 professional solicitors and supporting staff specialising in mental health law. We also have offices in the St Alban’s, Manchester and Bristol.

Bison Solicitors never act for the NHS or any other organisation. Only for patients and their families. Our charges are much lower than what most other law firms charge and most of our work is legally aided.

This means that wherever you are and whatever your situation, we are here to help at a very vulnerable and distressing time. You can be assured of our discretion, empathy and compassion, while always keeping your needs and wishes in mind.

What our specialist mental health lawyers do

We provide bespoke legal advice regarding process, treatment, detention and your rights under mental health law, including the Mental Health Act and the Mental Capacity Act.
You can be safe in the knowledge that we will do all that is necessary to help. We have been involved in many high-profile and complex cases – we have taken several cases to appeal courts, including the Supreme Court.

Our mental health law team of around 40 includes many lawyers and other professionals with Mental Health Accreditation from the Law Society, plus other solicitors and paralegals. That means you can be sure we have the necessary knowledge and experience to assist you.

Let us help you today with mental health law

  • Please refer to our terms of service

What is the Mental Health Act?

The Mental Health Act outlines when a local authority and health authority can detain you without your permission. It’s often called being ‘sectioned’.

Fundamentally, the Mental Health Act is there to protect the person who is sectioned. However, should you or your family disagree with your being detained, you are within your rights to challenge and object. We can provide expert legal assistance in doing this.

Every personal and legal angle covered

We take a personal, tailored approach, looking at all the issues regarding your care, helping you to understand the law and how it affects you. Above all, we are passionate in working to ensure you have the best possible outcome.

Our services include:

  • Investigating your detention in hospital, ensuring that it is properly authorised by law and that procedures prescribed by law are followed.
  • Ensuring you aren’t forcibly medicated against your wishes unless proper legal procedures are followed.
  • Checking the boundaries set by the detaining authority on you are proportionate.
  • Safeguarding that you are treated in accordance with Mental Health Law whilst in seclusion and that your human rights are respected at all times.
  • Ensuring your detention will not go beyond the time limit set by the law.
  • Advising your family, or those with legal responsibility for your care, of their rights under the Mental Health Act. In appropriate cases, we can appoint a person to act as your nearest relative under the Act (also remove someone, if appropriate).
  • Making sure that the Independent Mental Health Tribunal reviews your detention thoroughly.
  • Ensuring that the detaining authority is accountable for its decision regarding your care and detention.
  • Checking that your needs in the community are properly assessed and provided for by the local authority.
  • For those seeking psychiatric help, making sure you have access to the care and treatment you require.
  • For those subject to Community Treatment Order, ensuring that the conditions are appropriate, necessary and proportionate.
  • Thoroughly investigating your case history and putting right any inaccuracy contained in your medical record in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

We have offices in Aldershot, St Alban’s, Manchester and Bristol. Call Bison Solicitors now on +44 (0)1252 268068

News/Notable Cases

Mental Health Solicitors

How Does The Mental Health Capacity Act Affect Family Proceedings

Mental Capacity issues arise in all sorts of legal matters. In order to give instructions and litigate any type of matter, the client needs to be deemed to have capacity to do so, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

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