Social Work and the Law, 1st Edition

This textbook highlights the importance of understanding the legal context for ethical and effective social work practice. Written in an accessible manner, it covers areas of law that are particularly relevant to social workers. The inclusion of people’s experiences of the law helps to illustrate the tensions and opportunities that the legal context creates in practice. * Dr Jemma Venables, University of Queensland *The strengths of this book are the focus on Australian law, the topics and their relation to each other, the fit with semester and its scope. It is well structured and covers all the main areas for social work. * Dr Lynelle Watts, Curtin University *This book provides an accessible guide to ethical practice and makes a good link between understandings of justice and human rights. The level is appropriate, the structure is appealing, and the focus on advocacy is particularly useful for students in social work and new graduates. * Dr Prue Atkins, La Trobe University *

Dr. Chris Maylea is a social worker, lawyer, academic, and consultant specializing in the intersections of social work and law. He has published on social work in involuntary mental health settings, refugees, and asylum seekers. He has worked extensively in mental health and homelessness, with experience as a youth worker and in Aboriginal-specific services. He works pro bono as a lawyer, regularly consults at state and federal levels, and teaches social work at RMIT University.