Seminars

The didactic activities of the fellow program center on two weekly seminars and a bi-weekly case conference. The seminars are attended by the forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry fellows and occasional visitors, making for a group of 10-12 people that is highly conducive to discussion.

Forensic Psychology/Psychiatry Seminar . The Program's main seminar is taught weekly, on Tuesday mornings (see link to faculty) as weel as by other faculty and outside presenters. The purpose of the seminar is to provide the critical empirical and theoretical foundations for specialization in forensic psychology. The seminar focuses on reading and discussion of relevant mental health law concepts, forensic assessment methods, research on relevant psycholegal issues, and issues raised by the fellows' practicum experiences. The seminar covers a wide range of forensic content, including topics in criminal and civil forensic evaluations, juvenile evaluations, professional ethics, and psychological evidence and testimony.

Landmark Mental Health Law Case Seminar. This seminar is taught weekly, on Tuesday afternoons, by Albert Grudzinskas, J.D. , Paul Noroian, M.D. and other faculty.The seminar involves fellows in the discussion of over 100 of the most important appellate cases in mental health law. Through this seminar, fellows learn how to read and analyze law, and how to think about mental health law and policy.

Law-Psychiatry Case Conference . Bi-weekly on Monday mornings, the entire faculty of the Law-Psychiatry Program meets as a whole to hear and discuss a presentation by a Program member or an outside speaker. Presentations may involve forensic cases, descriptions of ongoing or completed research projects, or descriptions of special forensic issues and programs. Fellows are expected to present their own cases or research at this seminar sometime during the fellow year.

Psychopathy Checklist. We provide a 2 day workshop to train fellows in the use of the (PCL-R) and the Psychopathy Checklist Screeninig Version (PCL-SV), as well as opportunities to use these instruments.

Other didactic experiences are available throughout the year. Fellows have the option to attend weekly Psychiatry Grand Rounds at UMMS, which often include clinical topics that are relevant for forensic work. In-service trainings are also available at Bridgewater State Hospital. Opportunities for participation in "mock trials" to enhance testimonial skills are provided, including an opportunity to participate in Mock Trials at Harvard Law School, where law students spend a day learning to question mental health experts by cross-examining the forensic psychology fellows who take the role of expert witnesses.

The Law-Psychiatry Program also produces several day-long workshops for forensic mental health professionals throughout Massachusetts. Fellows attend these workshops and sometimes make presentations at them. Once or twice a year, fellows are asked to teach brief units to Psychiatry residents on topics in psychology, such as psychological testing or legal issues in clinical practice.

Fellows are encouraged to attend a national conference during the year that will provide exposure to research and professional issues in psychology and law, such as the annual conference of the American Psychology-Law Society (Division 41 of American Psychological Association).