# Rule 11(7)(a) appointments by tribunal office

**URL:** <https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/rule-11-7-a-appointments-by-tribunal-office/4629>\
**Category:** Mental Health Tribunal\
**Tags:** rule-11\
**Created:** [9 November 2025 09:16 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/rule-11-7-a-appointments-by-tribunal-office/4629 "2025-11-09T09:16:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Karen](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@Karen](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/Karen)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2025 09:16 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/rule-11-7-a-appointments-by-tribunal-office/4629/1 "2025-11-09T09:16:27Z")

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We have become aware that the tribunal office have started ‘appointing’ reps under R 11(7) a without obtaining a capacity assessment . This is not within the rules as they do not have evidence on capacity or that the patient wants a rep. I expect they are doing this to try to prevent the number of clients getting to a tribunal with no rep and this causing an adjournment. Has anyone else noticed this? Any views?

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**Author:** ![ZacSussex](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/z/e8c25b/32.png) [@ZacSussex](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/ZacSussex)\
**Post date:** [9 November 2025 17:14 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/rule-11-7-a-appointments-by-tribunal-office/4629/2 "2025-11-09T17:14:33Z")

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I haven’t noticed any R11 appointments without the checkbox of “I want a legal representative appointed for me” ticked on the MHT App/Referral.

Could it be that Trust policy is to tick that box unless the patient already has a legal rep on file? Hospitals get annoyed with adjournments too.

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**Author:** ![wendy2](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@wendy2](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/u/wendy2)\
**Post date:** [13 November 2025 12:41 UTC](https://forum.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/t/rule-11-7-a-appointments-by-tribunal-office/4629/3 "2025-11-13T12:41:07Z")

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Yes, especially with CTO patients and then I find out that they haven been asked if they want a paper review or actually want a tribunal. The majority don’t want to engage and definitely don’t want a visit or to sign the LA form. Very frustrating