The William Mitchell Law School and the University of Minnesota have combined to form a forensic clinic. This is scheduled for a half day per week for 20 weeks at the William Mitchell Law School. Patients are referred from attorneys in practice for legal issues that require psychiatric expertise. The child psychiatry residents evaluate children and families, and coordinate legal questions with both the William Mitchell Law students and the William Mitchell Law faculty. Cases are discussed, recommendations are made, and the resident and child psychiatry clinical faculty member prepares reports.
Residents participate in discussions with law students about cases, learn from the faculty attorneys, and are guided in preparation of reports for the court, as well as preparation for giving testimony. Each resident will take part in a minimum of two cases. They will attend court a minimum of two times, either on their own cases or on another resident’s court testimony. Ages range from five years old through age 17. Diagnoses of patients are: conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, major depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. The function of this rotation is aimed at learning how to be a consultant to the legal system, preparation of reports and court testimonies.