COURSE INFORMATION

The LLM in Mental Health Law aims to combine in-depth study of Mental health Law with the flexibility of distance learning study. The programme enables participants to gain specialist knowledge within a practical context whilst enhancing research skills and developing expertise in a chosen field.

Participants benefit from:

• Optional Saturday study days where they attend lectures and workshops.
• Comprehensive learning materials written by experts in the field.

A choice of option modules which allow participants to adapt the programme to suit their professional needs and enhance understanding of Mental Health issues.

What you will study

The programme begins with an introductory Legal Methodology module and the first of six optional study days. This module provides an introduction to the English Legal System for non-lawyers and a firm grounding in basic legal research methods. You will complete a further three modules during the first year, and these, together with the research module and study days, make up the core module in Year 1 and are designed to develop understanding in the key areas of mental health law and practice.

In the second year of the programme, you will specialize in two modules. Careful selection of the range of options allows you to adapt the course the best suit their professionals and career paths. At the completion of this stage, 18 months into the programme, you may either graduate at this point with a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental health Law or elect to progress to Masters Degree level. Those wishing to continue to Masters degree level are required to complete a dissertation in the second half of Year 2.

Four core modules cover the following topics:

• Legal Methodology introduces the legal system to non-law students and examines the methodology of legal study, the sources of legal knowledge and principles of legal research.
• Compulsory Civil Admission to Hospital and Guardianship examines compulsory civil admission and discharge under part 11 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and the process by which a patient becomes subject to guardianship and after care supervision. The module also introduces the roles and duties of key personnel in the mental health field.
• Mental Health Review Tribunals critically examines the tribunal’s history, constitution, duties and powers and considers all stages of the tribunal procedure from application/reference through to final decision. It also considers the impact of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the European Convention on MHRTs.
• Consent to Treatment critically evaluates the rights which patients have to give or withhold consent to medical treatment.

Options

In the first half of Year 2, you will specialize in two options, chosen from five available, enabling concentration on areas of particular interest and practical relevance in your own field.

You are asked to choose two optional modules from the following five:

• Mental Health Law and the Elderly
• Community Care and the Law
• Mental Health Law – Children and Young Persons
• Mentally Disordered Offenders

After successful completion of the core and optional modules, you are awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Law.

Those wishing to obtain the Masters degree have a further six months in which to complete a researched project of between 16,000 – 20,000 words on a related area allowing the exploration of a particular topic to a greater degree.

COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT

Each option is assessed by way of a written researched assignment, with a maximum word limit of 4,000. Students wishing to gain an LLM must successfully complete a project of 16,000 – 20,000 words. 12 Law at Northumbria University.

CAREERS

The programme will be of interest to practicing lawyers, psychiatrists, social workers, hospital administration and those with a general interest in Mental Health Law. It explores and develops key areas of mental Health Law and Practice, including community care, rights and duties under the Mental Health Act and related legislation, the rights of the mentally incapacitated child and elderly client.

The programme will be taught on a distance learning basis, with the provision of materials in the form of study packs, and lectures and workshops provided in six non-compulsory study days.

OTHER INFO

Study days
There are six optional Saturday study days built into the programme. Attendance is highly recommended. Study days provide participants with an opportunity to listen to guest speakers with specialist knowledge in the field, and to meet with tutors and each other.

Course Length:

18 months for the PG Dip, 2 years for the LLM, distance learning

Enquiries:
Future Focus Ltd
8, Magazines Street
Floriana FRN 1119
Malta
Tel. +35621221371
E-mail: info@futurefocus.com.mt

Standard Entry:

Applicants should hold a degree or comparable professional qualification.

Candidates who have obtained extensive experience in a work-related field will also be considered.

Other:

Those for whom English is not their first language should have attained a score of 6.5 or better in the IELTS test.