The goal of this course is to teach students the special advocacy skills needed by lawyers and expert witnesses that are essential in cases involving persons with mental disabilities. The course will cover topics including civil commitment standards; outpatient commitment; issues of proof; dealing with expert witnesses;  rights to community services; forensic issues; patient advocacy issues; and dealing with stigma/public awareness.

In addition to the lecture-based presentations on streaming video (that are the basis in all of the online mental disability law courses), this course includes two simulated trials, one of an involuntary civil commitment case, and one of an incompetency to stand trial hearing.  The lawyers and judges in these simulated trials are the course instructors; the patients are depicted by attorneys whose work focus is mental disability law; the expert witnesses are forensic psychiatrists (all of whom have studied with program director, Professor Perlin).  This is a predominately on-line course, requiring students to participate in a weekly chat room, discussion boards, and two, day-long weekend live seminars at New York Law School.  The grade is based on chat room, discussion board and live seminar participation, a midterm paper, and a take-home final.  Prerequisite: Survey of Mental Disabiltiy Law or an advanced degree, training or professional experience in any aspect of psychology, psychiatry, social work, or other allied therapeutic field.  In certain very limited other circumstances, students will be allowed to enroll by permission of the instructor.