Clinical experience is critical to most cases.
The psychiatrist is hired primarily for his or her ability to clarify the psychological and medical issues of a case, not to interpret legal ones. The forensic psychiatrist should be expected to understand the legal concepts and impact of the mental health issues in a case, and to be able to convey his or her psychiatric findings in language that the court can understand and use. Attorneys unfamiliar with mental health law or the potential effect of a psychiatric issue on their cases should be able to rely on the forensic psychiatrist s knowledge and experience to some extent, but the legal process itself is the province of lawyers and judges. General psychiatric training and clinical experience are sufficient for some forensic purposes. Not intended as legal or clinical advice.