Therapeutic jurisprudence is the study of the potential of law to heal or harm. It originally emerged in the mental health law field and uses the tools of the behavioral sciences to assess law's impact. It seeks to assess the therapeutic and counter-therapeutic consequences of law and how law is applied. When reform would be consistent with other important legal values, it seeks to reshape law and legal processes in ways that can improve the psychological functioning and emotional well-being of those affected.

This collection of seven essays covers such topics as mental health law, anorexia, narrative medical competence, neighbourhood disputes and stalking intervention orders, and the evolving role of judicial officers.

Therapeutic Jurisprudence is a special issue (Volume 20 No 2) of the journal Law in Context.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: Therapeutic Jurisprudence: Developments and Applications in Australia and New Zealand
Marilyn McMahon and David Wexler

CHAPTER 2: Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Australia: Paradigm Shift or Pragmatic Incrementalism?
Arie Freiberg

CHAPTER 3: The Past, Present and Future of Mental Health Law: A Therapeutic Jurisprudence Analysis
Alfred Allan

CHAPTER 4: Therapeutic Jurisprudence and Anorexia: A Synergy?
Terry Carney and Dominique Saunders

CHAPTER 5: Narrative Medical Competence and Therapeutic Jurisprudence: Moving Towards a Synthesis
Warren Brookbanks

CHAPTER 6: Neighbours and Stalking Intervention Orders: Old Conflicts and New Remedies
Marilyn McMahon and John Willis

CHAPTER 7: Judicial Officers: Complementing Conventional Law and Changing the Culture of the Judiciary
Jelena Popovic