Mental Health Accreditation
The accreditation covers all proceedings brought before the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health).
To appear before the tribunal under a mental health legal aid contract, you must be a member of both:
- the Mental Health Accreditation
- Lexcel or another quality assurance scheme
The accreditation’s a way for clients and their representatives to choose a qualified practitioner when a person detained under the MHA needs representation.
Eligibility
To apply for accreditation, you must be a:
- solicitor
- trainee solicitor
- member or fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, or
- case worker employed by a practice regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
We expect you to meet the standards of practice and conduct outlined in the Code of Practice for Mental Health (PDF 147 KB).
How to apply
To apply for accreditation, you’ll need to:
- pass a training course
- submit a detailed application
- attend an assessment
The application process takes around six to eight weeks.
It can take longer if we receive high volumes of applications or if you do not give us all the information we need.
Re-accreditation
Membership of the accreditation lasts for three years.
You can apply to be re-accredited up to three months before your accreditation expires.
Find out about re-accreditation
Cost
You’ll need to pay an application and a membership fee to be accredited.
We’ll send you an invoice when we receive your application.
Application fees are not-refundable.
| Application | Application fee | Membership fee | Total (including VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial application | £249 | £316 | £678 |
| Re-accreditation | £249 | £316 | £678 |
| Other fees | Cost | Total (including VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| Late application | £103 | £123.60 |
| Certificate re-issue | £10 | £12 |
| Appeal against decision to refuse accreditation | £258 | £309.60 |
Promoting your accreditation
We have a range of materials such as logos, certificates and window stickers for you to use.
Current members
Download a list of Mental Health Accreditation members (PDF 423.7 KB)
This list is updated monthly.
Contact us
Call: 020 7320 5797
Email: accreditation@lawsociety.org.uk
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday