APALEGALLYFREE LIMITED

Forensic Mental Health Consultancy & Expert Witness Services

We are an independent UK-based forensic mental health consultancy providing expert witness services and professional legal support. The practice is led by a Registered Mental Health Nurse with forensic experience and a qualified paralegal.

We are instructed by solicitors, courts, local authorities, and organisations to provide impartial, evidence-based mental health opinion, forensic assessments, and expert reports suitable for legal proceedings.

All services are delivered independently, ethically, and in accordance with professional and legal standards.

Professional Background & Expertise

The practice is led by a Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with substantial experience in forensic and secure mental health settings, working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system and presenting with complex mental health and risk issues.

Alongside clinical expertise, the practitioner is a qualified paralegal, with formal training in legal processes, documentation, and case preparation. This combined background enables a structured, legally informed approach to forensic mental health consultancy and expert witness work.

When acting as an expert witness, the practitioner’s primary duty is to the court, providing independent and unbiased opinion within their professional scope of competence.

Forensic Mental Health Consultancy

Forensic mental health assessments

Risk assessment and risk formulation

Mental health history and records analysis

Professional opinion within nursing scope

Advisory input to legal teams and organisations

Expert Witness Services

Expert reports compliant with CPR Part 35 and relevant court rules

Independent opinion for criminal, family, and civil proceedings

Joint statements and responses to questions from opposing experts

Court attendance where required

Paralegal & Legal Support Services

Legal research and case preparation support

Chronologies, summaries, and document review

Assistance to solicitors and legal professionals

Business and organisational legal support

⚠️ Paralegal services do not include reserved legal activities or legal advice.

Independent Mental Health Expert Evidence

We accept formal instruction as an Expert Witness in matters requiring forensic mental health opinion, provided these fall within professional competence and insurance coverage.

Expert services may include:

Independent forensic opinion

Risk-informed assessments

Analysis of mental health impact on legal matters

Objective expert reporting for court use

All expert work is conducted with independence, transparency, and adherence to the overriding duty owed to the court.

Court-Ready Reports & Professional Opinion

We produce clear, structured, and defensible written reports suitable for legal proceedings, including:

Expert witness reports

Forensic mental health summaries

Risk-informed professional opinion

Supplementary and addendum reports

Reports are evidence-based, neutral, and compliant with applicable court and professional standards.

Governance, Ethics & Insurance

This practice operates in accordance with:

Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code

CPR Part 35 (England & Wales)

Expert witness ethical standards

GDPR and UK data protection law

Appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance is maintained for forensic mental health consultancy, expert witness services, and paralegal support.

Transparency & Legal Notices

Privacy Policy (GDPR compliant)

Terms of Engagement

Expert Witness Declaration

Disclaimer (No legal advice provided)

Professional indemnity statement

These documents ensure clarity, compliance, and professional protection.

Enquiries and Expert Instructions

We accept:

Solicitor and legal professional instructions

Court-directed expert appointments

Organisational and local authority referrals

Initial enquiries are confidential and exploratory only and do not constitute clinical or legal advice.