Law and Psychology
Multiplin offers expert holistic perspective on the various interactions of psychology and the law. The law governs the activities of all types of psychologists (including, for instance, industrial psychologists) and, as such, psychologists can benefit from maintaining perspective on the law that governs them. In turn, psychology has numerous applications in the legal context. Apart from cases of specialised forensic psychology (the application of psychological expertise in the context of law), ordinary clinical or counselling specialists might unwittingly find themselves in court, having to give evidence regarding one of their clients. In this regard, it is essential for all testifying psychologists (or psychiatrists) to understand the legal effects of various statements. A different choice of words, which might appear to have little significance from the perspective of the psychologist (or psychiatrist), might have great significance to the lawyer.

Interdisciplinary specialists have a crucial role to play; any application of psychology in law, and vice versa, must occur with integrative interdisciplinary perspective if the interactions involved are to be efficient and effective. Apart from the numerous applications that have direct relevance to the courtroom, psychology also has application in policy-making, by utilising psychological expertise in evaluating existing law and proposed reforms.

There are two interdisciplinary specialists responsible for this specific integrative area: Roché Steyn and Chris Woodrow. Roché Steyn has perspective on the broader interactions of law and psychology, whereas Chris Woodrow is specialised in the interactions of children and the law. For our services involving law and psychology in the context of children, click here.


Specific services offered in this integrative area:    

*Preparing the psychologist or psychiatrist for the courtroom.

*Challenging expert testimony in court.

*Defending expert testimony in court.

*Legal strategy in malpractice cases or cases that involve a significant psychological component.

*Addressing malpractice concerns or other ethical or legal dilemmas in psychology and psychiatry.

*Assessing the value of eyewitness testimony, offender (line-up) identification and eyewitness credibility, from a cognitive-psychology perspective.

*Evaluations in respect of capacity in criminal-law contexts, and also contractual/testamentary capacity.

*Evaluations in respect of the psychological effects of emotional injury, personal insult, and physical injury.

*Preparing traumatised or sensitive witnesses for testimony.

*Informing the decisions of policy-makers in law by utilising psychological expertise in evaluating existing law and proposed reforms.

*Project management in contexts centrally involving law and psychology.

In providing these services, the interdisciplinary specialists bring in outsourced intradisciplinary specialists as required, always in close communication with the client. (See how we work).