Intro to Defense Social Work

The role of defense social workers is different from the role of social workers in social service or clinical settings. Defense social workers are advocates, part of the confidential legal team, and share a duty of loyalty to the people they represent. Rather than provide therapeutic services, social workers use their clinical skills, knowledge, and training to advance clients’ legal goals. Elizabeth Keeney and Robin Steinberg have explored the unique role of social workers on holistic defense teams.

Specialized Skills

Defense social workers and advocates bring strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches to interviewing clients and witnesses. They practice active listening, support alternate ways to develop a case theory and mitigation, and build connections to community-based resources. They can support clients who are struggling with mental health challenges, trauma, cognitive limitations, or other challenges that make it difficult to navigate their cases.

Where Defense Social Workers Advocate

Defense social workers advocate in many different spaces – in the courtroom including at first appearances, bail applications, plea pitches, and sentencing; outside of the courtroom during plea negotiation with opposing counsel, communications with service providers, treatment programs, detention facilities, in meetings with other prosecuting agencies (including child protective services), at public benefits offices and hearings; in the office, and in the community.

Checklists

• Arraignments Checklist
• Civil Action Practice Social Work Checklist
• Criminal Defense Social Worker Checklist
• Family Defense Social Work Checklist
• Immigration Defense Social Work Checklist