SW387R25 Course Syllabus - 1 - THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Course Number: N387R25 Instructors’ Names: Allison Benesch N360K Richard LaVallo Unique Number: 96665/96595 Semester: Summer 2007 Office Phone (Benesch): 854-9490 Office Phone (LaVallo): 454-4816 E-Mail: [email protected] Home Phone: 320-8868 [email protected] Meeting Time/Place: Tu. & Th.. 5:30-8:00 Office Hours: Th. 4:30-5:30 Room 2.118 N387R25/N360K: SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM I. COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is intended to demystify the legal system by providing students with substantive knowledge and practical skills that are necessary for surviving in the legal system. In preparation for field education, it will cover confidentiality, disclosure of records, social work privilege, informed consent, subpoenas, witness preparation and testifying. There will be an emphasis on the following areas of law which have a significant impact on social work practice: 1) family law; 2) domestic violence; 3) child abuse; 4) juvenile justice; 5) guardianship; 6) mental health; and 7) Americans with Disabilities Act. The course will offer students an opportunity to observe actual courtroom dockets, read case law and statutes, and review legal documents. Finally, it will cover social worker liability such as civil rights violations, malpractice and sexual harassment. II. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this course and in preparation of field education, the student will be able to: 1. Understand the state and federal confidentiality laws and the legal procedures governing the disclosure of confidential information; 2. Demonstrate familiarity with testifying in legal proceedings, including lay v. expert witnesses, direct examination and cross-examination and objections; 3. Understand the role of social workers and other experts in family law proceedings, including guardians ad litem, home/social studies, and court-ordered psychological evaluations; 4. Explain the process for obtaining a protective order in domestic violence cases and the legal effect of a protective order; 5. Identify the different types of proceedings in child abuse cases, including emergency removals, status hearings, review hearings and merits hearings as well as demonstrate familiarity with the child abuse reporting laws, the role of attorneys adlitem, guardians ad litem and CASA volunteers, and the testimony of social workers and therapists in such proceedings; 6. Understand what is meant by informed consent and how it affects social work practice; 7. Understand guardianship proceedings including court visitors, annual review of guardianships and removal of guardians and the impact of such proceedings on senior citizens and persons with disabilities; 8. Demonstrate familiarity with involuntary commitment proceedings, medication hearings. court-ordered out-patient treatment and advanced directives; 9. Analyze the impact of the Americans with Disabilities Act on human service agencies, clients and social workers in private practice; 10. Analyze the impact of this knowledge on diversity and public policy issues; 11. Analyze and apply this knowledge to social work practice; and 12. Demonstrate a knowledge base of the values/ethical issues in social work practice. III. TEACHING METHODS Lecture, discussion, assigned readings, guest speakers, examinations/assignments and courtroom observations. IV. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND MATERIALS Required Texts: Book of readings is available through Abel=s Copies, 715 W. 23rd St., Suite D, Austin, Texas, Tel. (512) 472-5353, FAX (512) 472-5775. A limited number of cases are required readings and are available on the Internet. Instruction on accessing case law on the Internet will be provided during the first class. Required Readings - See Weekly Assignments Recommended Materials: For each class, there is a list of statutes which relate to the subject matter to be discussed during the class. These statutes are recommended but not required reading. The statutes are available on the Internet. Instruction on accessing statutes on the Internet will be provided during the first class. V. COURSE REQUIREMENTS The following activities will be completed during the semester with points given for each course requirement. Grading will be based on a total of 100 possible percentage points accrued by the end of the course. Class Participation SW387R25 Course Syllabus - 2 -Students are expected to attend all classes, participate meaningfully in class discussion, and call upon course readings for contributions. PERCENT OF GRADE: 10/100 Reaction Paper Students will observe a court docket involving child protective services, family law, domestic violence or juvenile delinquency cases and write a reaction paper. The paper should be no more than 2 pages typed, double-spaced. The paper is due June 28, 2007. If a student is unable to observe these dockets because of his or her work schedule or other daytime conflicts, he or she will be excused from the reaction paper requirement but will have longer examinations which will be 40 percent of his or her grade. PERCENT OF GRADE: 10/100 Undergraduate Paper Two undergraduate students will choose a legal issue which has an impact on social work practice. Each student will write a paper supporting the opposite side of the issue. Papers should be typed and not over 10 pages. Papers are due on July 17, 2007. PERCENT OF GRADE: 40/100 Graduate Paper and Presentation Two graduate students will choose a legal issue which has an impact on social work practice and will make a classroom presentation in which they argue opposite sides of the issue for 10 minutes each. Each student will write a paper supporting the position taken in his or her classroom presentation. Papers should be typed and not be over 10 pages and are due on or before the last scheduled class. Papers are due on July 17, 2007. Presentations will be on July 19, 2007. PERCENT OF GRADE: PAPER 30/100 PRESENTATION 20/100 Examination There will be one examination in this course. The examination will be on July 24, 2007. There may be a question on the examination that will be based on one of the graduate student’s presentations. PERCENT OF GRADE: 30/100 (Graduate) PERCENT OF GRADE: 40/100 (Undergraduate) Grading Grades will be