Courtroom and Report Writing Skills for Social Workers 2/e

Clare Seymour is a registered social worker and qualified teacher at post-16 level. From 1998 until retiring in September 2009 she was senior lecturer in social work at Anglia Ruskin University, where she taught social work law, professional accountability and communication and interviewing skills to social work students at undergraduate and master's level. Since leaving Anglia Ruskin University, she continues to work as a practice educator for social work degree students and as external examiner for the social work degree at Reading University. Her social work experience includes 16 years of local authority social work, latterly in a child care team where she had a wide experience of court work, and bereavement support within a general practice. Richard Seymour is a senior circuit judge assigned to the Queens' Bench Division of the High Court of Justice. He has a first class honours degree in law from Cambridge University. He was in practice as a barrister until 2000, was appointed QC in 1991, and has been a president of Mental Health Review Tribunals. He jointly edited Kemp & Kemp The Quantum of Damages, 4th ed, 1975, contributed the legal chapters to publications on practice and procedure for the quantity surveyor and the architect in practice.

Introduction PART I: THE ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM IN CONTEXT Historical Development The English Legal System in Practice Legal Language and Decision-making Values and Principles in Law and Social Work PART II: PREPARING FOR COURT Legal Advice and Representation Achieving Excellence in Case Recording Writing Formal Reports for Court PART III: ATTENDING COURT Court Rules, Etiquette and Practical Matters Giving Evidence Cross-Examination What Happens Next? Conclusion