Understanding the Relationship between Social Work and the Law
Learning objectives
Having read this article you should have a better understanding the importance of using the law to effectively support and protect people who use social work services.
Understanding the law and how to work in legal settings is a vital aspect of being a social worker - social workers should be able to use the law to support and protect people who use social work services. In this article, Chris Maylea explores this relationship between social work and the law and how, as a social worker, you can work to address the oppression and harm often caused by the legal system.
This article is based on material from Social Work and the Law: A Guide for Ethical Practice by Chris Maylea. You can find out more about this title by visiting the MIHE website.
Reflective Questions
- In this article, the author draws upon the experience of experience of the Stolen Generation as an example of how doing the legal thing is not always the same as doing the right thing. Can you think of any other examples, within social work or more broadly, where the law might have conflicted with morals?
- Based on your practice experience to date, or knowledge of other people’s experiences you may be aware of, can you think of instances where the law has been used to fully support and protect someone who uses social work services? What happened and was the law used effectively?
- How confident are you in your understanding of the law? What steps could you take to improve this?