Social Workers and the Courts: Education, Practice, and Research Needs

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Although social workers have long been actively involved with the legal system in efforts to advocate on behalf of clients, there is a noticeable gap in social work education. The gap encompasses the knowledge needed by practicing social workers to present themselves objectively and to gain respect for the profession within the legal system; the failure of the profession to adequately explore the judicial development of social policy, which is becoming increasingly critical in providing for disenfranchised groups commonly served by the profession; and the inattention of the profession to the research needs of judges and the courts. This paper outlines the issues involved and presents directions for social work educators to take in attempting to fill this gap.