1.5 Hours / 1.5 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on "Under the Radar" Key Cases for Forensic Mental Health Professionals is presented by Michael Perlin, JD, in partnership with Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA).

This program covers cases from the US Supreme Court, lower federal courts, and state courts in all relevant areas that are important to forensic witnesses and evaluators, criminal, correctional, and civil, and explains why participants need to be aware of these cases during the evaluation, report-writing, and testimony stages. 

This program is intended for forensic witnesses/evaluators who wish to be up to date on cases that were probably not part of their academic training programs.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe cases that are not among those usually covered in forensic training courses, but are vital for forensic witnesses and evaluators to be familiar with
  • 2 Describe the significance of these court decisions in their practices
  • 3 Describe how courts (that are not obligated to follow these decisions) will likely decide similar cases

  • Intended Audience

    This program is intended for forensic witnesses and evaluators who wish to stay current on important legal cases that were likely not covered in their academic training. It is designed for forensic mental health professionals who serve as expert witnesses or evaluators in legal cases.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Psychiatrist
    • Social Worker
    • Forensic Evaluator
    • Expert Witness

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with varying levels of experience in forensic evaluation and testimony.

    Beginner:
    New to forensic mental health practice or recently licensed; limited exposure to court cases beyond standard academic training; seeking foundational knowledge of key legal decisions affecting forensic evaluation, report-writing, and testimony.

    Intermediate:
    Some experience as a forensic witness or evaluator; familiar with commonly cited cases but seeking to expand understanding of less well-known, yet significant, court decisions in criminal, correctional, and civil contexts.

    Advanced:
    Extensive experience in forensic mental health; regularly provides expert testimony; interested in nuanced analysis of recent or “under the radar” cases and their practical implications for complex evaluations and testimony.

  • Practice Setting

    Forensic mental health professionals—including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and evaluators—typically practice in environments where legal and clinical expertise intersect. They may work in courtrooms, correctional facilities, private practices, hospitals, or government agencies, providing expert evaluations, reports, and testimony in criminal, civil, and correctional cases. Their work often involves direct interaction with legal professionals, conducting assessments, preparing written reports, and presenting findings in legal proceedings.

    • Courtrooms (testifying as expert witnesses)
    • Correctional facilities (conducting forensic assessments)
    • Private forensic practices or consulting firms
    • State or federal hospitals (evaluating competency or risk)
    • Government agencies (child protection, probation, or parole)
    • Law enforcement agencies (providing psychological evaluations)
    • Academic or research institutions (training and case consultation)

Presented By

Michael L. Perlin, JD, Professor of Law Emeritus at New York Law School (NYLS)

Michael L. Perlin is Professor of Law Emeritus at New York Law School (NYLS), founding director of NYLS’s Online Mental Disability Law Program, and founding director of NYLS’s International Mental Disability Law Reform Project in its Justice Action Center. He is also the co-founder of Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates. He has written 31 books and nearly 300 articles on all aspects of mental disability law, many of which deal with the overlap between mental disability law and criminal law and procedure.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Michael L. Perlin, JD

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Why we are offering this

  • The “unknown cases”

  • Criminal

  • Correctional

  • Civil

  • The impact of these cases on participants’ practice

We are proud to partner with

Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA)

Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates (MDLPA)

We are proud to partner with Mental Disability Law and Policy Associates, LLC for this training. MDLPA is a boutique educational training company that offers specialized mental disability law consulting, the creation or enhancement of distance learning programs, in-house or online courses, and day or weekend training seminars to reputable organizations, educational institutions, professional groups, and advocacy groups focused on providing advanced knowledge and skills to persons working with marginalized populations.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.