How to apply

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Our Mental Health Accreditation is a recognised quality standard for practitioners representing patients in proceedings under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA).

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.

Step 1: Complete the training

You must complete a two-day training course from one of our approved training providers:

You’ll need a basic understanding of mental health law and procedure before attending the training.

Step 2: Apply for an EDBS check

You’ll need to apply for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (EDBS) check.

An enhanced DBS check can take up to six weeks. Start the process as soon as possible, as your application will be refused if you fail to complete the process.

We can accept an existing enhanced disclosure if it’s not more than three months old at the date we receive your application.

We may request additional enhanced DBS checks to be undertaken at any point after your accreditation or re-accreditation.

Step 3: Read the guidance

Before you begin your application, read the:

Step 4: Complete the form

Complete the application form (Word 427 KB).

Step 5: Submit your application

Your completed application is made up of:

your application form
a copy of your training certificate
an original EDBS check

Do not send files larger than 18 MB. If necessary, send your supporting documents in separate emails.

Submit your application by email

Step 6: Pay the fee

We’ll send you an invoice when we receive your application.

The total fee is £678 (VAT included).

Step 7: Complete the multiple-choice test

Our accreditations team will review and assess your application. We’ll let you know if we need any more information from you.

If you meet our eligibility checks, you’ll need to complete a multiple-choice questionnaire on law and procedure.

We’ll email you to ask you to create a Law Society Learning account within 48 hours.

Email our accreditation team with your username so that we can assign the questionnaire to your account.

You’ll have five working days to begin the questionnaire. You must complete the test within 10 minutes. Your answers will be automatically submitted once the time is up.

Step 8: Assessment

Once you’ve completed the questionnaire, you’ll be invited to an interview at our offices in London before a panel of two of our assessors.

You must arrive one hour before your interview time.

We’ll give you a case study to read when you arrive. This will concern a person detained under the MHA who has applied to the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health).

You’ll have one hour to prepare for the interview stage. You should think about how to:

prepare and present your client’s case at a tribunal hearing
deal with issues of law, procedure and evidence

The interview lasts for one hour. The assessors will ask you questions about the case study. You can bring reference materials, such as the Mental Health Act Manual.

The interview is made up of two parts:

a practice and professional conduct assessment
an assessment on the case study

Step 9: Accreditation

Our accreditation team will review and assess your application once you’ve passed the assessment.

We’ll let you know the outcome of your application once we’ve received your payment.

Appeals

If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll refund your membership fee.

You may appeal against our decision.

Read our appeals policy

Contact us

Call: 020 7320 5797

Email: accreditation@lawsociety.org.uk

Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday