Taught By:
Fay Keys
Associate Professor
School of Social Work
Wayne State University
Read profile here.
Course Description:
Social Work and the Law is an asynchronous course designed to explore the critical intersection of law and social work practice. The course is structured in two parts: the first half focuses on building a solid understanding of the law. In contrast, the second half emphasizes integrating legal knowledge with social work practice. Throughout the course, students will delve into key topics, including legislative, judicial, and administrative processes; laws impacting various areas of social work; legal and ethical responsibilities; and legal research skills. The curriculum also covers preparation for legal proceedings and aims to demystify legal terminology. The primary objectives of this course are to help students understand legal processes relevant to social work, learn to navigate the legal system as practitioners, develop proficiency in legal research and interpretation, and foster effective collaboration between social workers and legal professionals. By the end of this course, students will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively integrate legal understanding into their social work practice, significantly enhancing their ability to advocate for clients within legal frameworks.
