As the Nation’s leading entity on perinatal mental health (PMH), PSI is often contacted for assistance in legal cases involving PMHDs. These cases vary in nature and involve all aspects of law: criminal, family, employment, and medical malpractice. PSI’s Legal Justice program connects attorneys with perinatal mental health expert witnesses. As our program grows, so does the need for qualified experts.
PSI is looking for psychiatrists and psychologists who:
- Have five years of experience working exclusively with the perinatal population in a PMH capacity
- Have taken PSI’s 2-day Components of Care course or equivalent
PSI strives to maintain a uniform standard when referring professionals. Our expert witnesses are required to take PSI’s 1-day expert witness training. Once completed, you will be added to our referral list. Those on the list may educate attorneys, provide court testimony, or mentor other expert witnesses.
In order to remain on our expert witness list, we expect the following:
- Maintain your state licensure
- Biannual PSI engagement
- Every two years you must do one of the following:
- Connect with an attorney referred
- PMH101 call
- Expert witness for a case
- Connect with another expert witness in a mentor capacity
- Participate on the expert witness listserv
- Instruct a PSI attorney training
- Attend a PSI advanced training
- Attend PSI Conference
- Connect with an attorney referred
- Every two years you must do one of the following:
- Complete PSI follow-up survey after being connected with an attorney
Expert Witness Mentor*
Sometimes our experts need mentorship beyond our training. As a mentor, we would call on you once or twice annually to speak with an expert on an active case. The attorney should be preparing the expert, but you would be expected to provide encouragement and reassurance through your expertise and experience.
Educating Attorneys*
Educating attorneys is a key aspect of this program. Sometimes the attorney can make progress with a brief (45-minute) “PMH 101” call. Other times, full seminars are needed. These presentations will take place in person or live online. The call would be a free service (no diagnosing – general information only), and being a presenter would be a PSI contract position.
Time Commitment and Compensation Expectations
Volunteer capacity: (PMH 101 call, peer mentorship) once a year.
Paid capacity: (expert witness, training presenter) we will do our best to spread the load, however those in areas with few experts may be called on more than once. We hope you will be able to help when called, but we know that is not always feasible and will not be held against you for future referrals.
Training presenters will be compensated by PSI at our set rate. Expert witnesses will be compensated by the requesting attorney at your agreed-upon rate. Please note that most criminal case expert witnesses are compensated through court funding, which may be set below your standard rate.
Ready to get started?
*These aspects are not required. PSI is largely a volunteer organization, and our program cannot grow without them. When you are placed on our referral list, you will indicate your willingness to provide a PMH101 call, mentor other experts, or be a presenter for attorney training. Your preferences can be changed at any time.
