Social Work Skills Can Fill the Gaps in Legal Education: Law Student Opinions of their Preparation for Practice with Clients

Abstract

Legal education focuses on case analysis, without instruction on practice with clients. Social workers argue the client, as the consumer of services, is the best source of knowledge when assessing needs. Therefore, the authors conducted a qualitative study of law students, as consumers of services, regarding whether law school prepares them for practice and what additional training they need. The responses indicate that law curricula do not prepare students for practice, and that students desire training in interviewing and human behavior. The respondents were enthusiastically receptive to interdisciplinary instruction. Therefore, the time is ripe for social work and law schools to further explore interdisciplinary collaborations, which will ultimately result in better served clients.