Workers Services

MSW/JD, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work offers an MSW-JD degree. Over twenty universities offer the jd-msw degree.This was very interesting to me as in Broward county florida a social worker has been up against some severe criticism for starting a Jewish American bar Association.  Lets take a further look. According to the university of Pittsburgh:

Increasingly, social work professionals and attorneys are working together to promote the well-being of their clients. These areas of convergence exist in practice with individuals, families, and groups as well as with communities and organizations.This union within the Jewish American Bar Association seems quite timely. The intersection of legal and social work concerns is also evident at the policy level, and research from both professional disciplines has been used to inform these activities. It is not uncommon for practitioners from both fields to work in concert to draft, implement, and/or advocate for legislation at the local, state, and federal levels.So it appears we may have a new place for social workers. What an interesting combination in a Bar association.There are many unique benefits in putting this team together.
Skills learned in a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program
that are helpful in the practice of law include interviewing, empathic
listening, identification of clients’ goals, evaluation, crisis
intervention, and trust. In addition, social workers’ clients must
often overcome a number of barriers, legal and otherwise. Since the two fields complement each other so well, both lawyers and
social workers are increasingly called upon to consult with each other
and work in multidisciplinary teams to provide better service to their
clients.From the clients’ perspective, a social worker is non threatening,a listener and a helper.

People with legal problems feel helpless. There are very few MSW/JD’s. Even without a JD  a social worker who has worked with attorneys and  clients in need of legal help can be the sensitive voice for the legal community.The social worker has been trained to understand the client in distress. This is not part of the lawyers  background. What an unbeatable combination and winning team. In Broward county Florida  a social worker saw this potential and took a step foward. And old friend once told me dont create a need but, find a need and fill it.  What an interesting concept. Perhaps we can finally change the public view of the legal community.