Expert Mental Health Solicitors

At GT Stewart, our expert Mental Health Solicitors provide specialist legal advice and representation for clients and their families across all areas of mental health law. We guide individuals through complex legal processes with care, ensuring that their rights are protected.

Our team has extensive experience with Mental Health Act matters, including detention, tribunal proceedings, and appeals. We are committed to providing clear, strategic guidance, helping clients and their families understand the legal process and the options available to them.

Experienced Mental Health Lawyers 

Our experienced Mental Health Lawyers focus on practical representation at every stage of the legal process. We regularly act in First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health) hearings, Hospital Managers’ hearings, Section 117 aftercare meetings, and appeals.

We work closely with clients, families, and medical professionals to ensure each case is prepared thoroughly and handled sensitively. With a compassionate, client-centered approach, our lawyers aim to achieve lawful, fair outcomes while supporting clients through what can be a challenging experience.

Mental Health

We represent those who are, or who have previously been detained under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended). Our Lawyers are specialists, who have been accredited by the Law Society to advocate for clients at the First-Tier Tribunal (Mental Health).

Our Mental Health Solicitors can help you with:

• Advice if you have been sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983 (as amended) for both
  • ‘unrestricted’ patients (section 2, 3, 37, and CTO patients)
  • ‘restricted’/forensic patients (section 37/41, 48/49, 47/49, 45A, and conditionally discharged patients)
• Representation at First Tier Tribunals
• Assistance at Hospital Managers hearings
• Assistance at Section 117 and Care Programme Approach (CPA) meetings
• Advice regarding voluntary inpatient admissions
• Assistance with issues with treatment and progress both in hospital and in the community
• Advice and assistance to challenge unlawful detention
• Advice and assistance regarding Section 117 aftercare
• Advice to Nearest Relatives on their rights, including advice on displacement proceedings
• Appealing the decisions of the First-Tier Tribunal, and representation in the Upper Tier Tribunal

We are often able to act at short notice and have experience in assisting clients with very complex issues.

Please do not hesitate to contact the team if you require urgent advice and assistance, particularly if you are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Funding your case

The vast majority of our legal advice is available entirely free of charge to clients through legal aid. Please see our funding page or contact us for more details.

Our approach

We recognise that our clients are amongst the most vulnerable people in society. We pride ourselves on building a relationship of trust with each and every client and we always strive to achieve a positive outcome for our clients.

We aim to provide a flexible and tailored service, providing advice over telephone, email, and in person. The team regularly travels to see clients at psychiatric wards and community mental health centres. Where appropriate, appointments can also be made to see a member of the team in one of our offices.

The Mental Health Team works closely with the Community Care and Court of Protection departments at GT Stewart Solicitors. The teams are experienced and skilled to recognise the connections between these areas and are able to refer any matters to the relevant department to ensure that you are provided with a full service that is suited to your needs.

If you would like to discuss the work that we do further, please contact us on 0208 299 6000. Alternatively, you can make an online enquiry and we will respond at the earliest opportunity.

Mental Health Resources

We have developed a series of briefings to explain the upcoming changes to the Mental Health Act and how they may affect both professionals and patients.

For professionals, all briefings cover the changes to the Mental Health Act, except the General Hospital Staff briefing, which is for ward staff in general hospitals who have a patient detained under the Mental Health Act.

For patients, the briefing covers the upcoming changes to the Mental Health Act.

For Professionals:

• Briefing for Forensic Social Workers

• Briefing for General Hospital Staff

• Briefing for IMHA Services

• Briefing for MHAO Staff

• Briefing for Social Workers

For Patients:

• Briefing for Patients

Why choose GT Stewart?

Our Mental Health team is comprised of dedicated and experienced Lawyers who are committed to providing the highest quality of advice and representation. The Mental Health Team operates from the City of London, Birmingham and Leeds offices.

We typically cover hospitals in and across London, South of England, East of England, Midlands and the North West of England.