School of Law establishes pioneering Mental Health Court Clinic

http://www.law.seattleu.edu/x7582.xml

Excerpt:

As courts throughout the state and the country struggle with how to deal with mentally ill criminal offenders, Seattle University School of Law has started a groundbreaking clinic to train and inspire lawyers to practice in this important area of the law.

The Mental Health Court Clinic at the Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic is believed to be the first of its kind in the country. Through an innovative partnership with Associated Counsel for the Accused (ACA), students get first-hand experience representing clients in Seattle Municipal Mental Health Court.

"This is difficult work, full of challenges, but also great rewards," said Russell Kurth, an experienced mental health court practitioner at ACA and Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the law school. "Through education at Seattle University School of Law, we're going to train the next generation of lawyers who care about these issues."