Lara Patrick

Lara qualified as a solicitor in 2005 and is a long standing member of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme.  In 2007 Lara was made a partner of the firm she qualified with, before moving on to Head of Department at the largest provider of publicly funded services.

In 2012, Lara was appointed by the Law Society as an Assessor for candidates applying to become members of the Law Society’s Mental Health Accreditation Scheme.

Lara is a specialist mental health practitioner, with extensive experience advising and representing a cross section of civil and restricted clients detained under the Mental Health Act, from those detained in conditions of maximum security, through to general acute settings and clients receiving treatment under Community Treatment Orders. She has successfully appealed decisions of the First-tier Tribunal (Mental Health), has represented client’s in judicial review proceedings, and in nearest relative displacement proceedings before the County Court.  More recently, Lara has represented in Section 21A Court of Protection proceedings, challenging authorisations granted under the deprivation of liberty safeguards regime.

Lara is dedicated to publically funded work and representing those most vulnerable in society, with a particular interest in representing conditionally discharged patients seeking an absolute discharge.

In recognition of her work in this area of law, Lara was listed as a Rising Star in Super Lawyers 2013.

As a founding partner, Lara is appointed as the firm’s Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration.

Lara is a trust appointed school governor, she has been closely involved in a recent Ofsted inspection and the school conversion to academy status.