Can you provide a report for an urgent injunction application?

Yes. Where an out-of-hours injunction application is pending, we can usually arrange a same-day or next-day assessment and a focused short-form report to support the application, with a fuller report to follow.

How quickly can a report be delivered?

Standard turnaround is 1–2 weeks from receipt of the bundle and access to the assessee. Urgent reports can be delivered in 2–5 working days where a Crown Court trial date, tribunal listing or interim hearing requires it. We will tell you on day one whether the deadline is realistic.

How are fees calculated?

We agree a fixed fee for the report and any addendum, joint statement work and CMC/court attendance up front. Fees reflect the complexity, the volume of records and the urgency. We will provide a written quote that supports a Legal Aid prior authority application where required.

Can the expert be instructed as a Single Joint Expert?

Yes. The majority of our consultants accept SJE instructions and are experienced in dealing with joint letters of instruction, Part 35 questions from both sides, and joint reports with experts of like discipline.

Is in-person assessment essential?

Most assessments can be conducted by secure video, which keeps costs and timescales down and avoids travel. In-person assessment is arranged where the case calls for it, for example where capacity, malingering, or a child or learning-disabled assessee is involved, and across all the UK regions we cover.

What happens if the report is challenged at court?

The instructed expert remains responsible for the case end-to-end, including responding to Part 35 questions, attending the joint experts' discussion, signing the joint statement, and giving live evidence. There is no handover to a different expert at trial.

Case type

Public Law

Psychiatric evidence in public law and judicial review usually goes to vulnerability, capacity, the impact of an impugned decision on mental health, or the appropriateness of community care or detention arrangements.

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Overview

Psychiatric evidence in public law and judicial review is usually directed to vulnerability, to the impact of an impugned decision on mental health, or to the lawfulness of arrangements affecting a mentally disordered claimant. The audience is the Administrative Court and the report is written accordingly.

We instruct consultants experienced in writing for judicial review proceedings, including reports in support of urgent injunctive relief and reports for substantive hearings engaging Articles 3 and 8 ECHR.

Legal framework

Reports are prepared under CPR Part 35 and may engage the Human Rights Act 1998 (Articles 3 and 8), the Care Act 2014, and the Mental Health Act 1983.

Public law: areas we cover

Article 3 risk

Reports address whether the impugned decision, typically removal, detention, or refusal of services, would expose the claimant to a real risk of treatment crossing the Article 3 threshold by reference to their mental state.

Article 8 proportionality

Reports address the impact of the impugned decision on the claimant's mental health and on family and private life, supporting the proportionality assessment.

Community care and Care Act challenges

Reports address the psychiatric needs that any lawful Care Act assessment and care plan must meet, and the impact of any failure to meet those needs.

Vulnerability and capacity

Reports address whether the claimant is a vulnerable adult under the inherent jurisdiction or lacks capacity under the MCA, supporting the appointment of a litigation friend or the engagement of safeguarding duties.

Psychiatric issues addressed

Vulnerability and capacity in judicial review claimants
Impact of decisions on mental health (Article 8)
Risk of inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3)
Suitability of community care provision

Typical questions for the expert

What is the claimant's psychiatric condition and vulnerability?
What is the impact of the impugned decision on mental health?

What's in the report

Part 35 / FPR Part 25 / CrimPR statement of compliance, as applicable
Expert's CV and statement of independence
Detailed list of materials considered (records, statements, scans, prior reports)
Full history, mental state examination and collateral information
Diagnostic formulation referenced to ICD-11 / DSM-5-TR
Reasoned opinion on causation, apportionment, prognosis and treatment
Indicative treatment costings where requested
Statement of truth signed in the prescribed form

How we help

Same-day shortlist of suitable consultants once we receive a brief instruction
Choice of male or female assessor, and of sub-specialty, on every instruction
Fixed fees agreed up front; Legal Aid prior authority figures supported
Standard turnaround 1–2 weeks; urgent reports inside 5 working days where the diary allows
Joint reports, addendum reports, Part 35 questions and CMC attendance handled by the same expert
Remote (secure video) or in-person assessment across the UK

Frequently asked questions

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