Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) integrate legal services into the health care setting to resolve legal issues that have a negative impact on patient health. These partnerships between attorneys and health care professionals have traditionally focused on physicians. Despite early success and expansion of the MLP model, the literature is only…

Lack of consensus in literature of advocacy is demonstrated in the dichotomy between the "best interest" and "pure advocacy" approaches. This lack has resulted in differential interpretations of how practitioners should implement the advocacy role in legal settings and has created ethical problems for practitioners. (Author)

A survey of public defender programs found that an increasing number of social workers are providing assistance at the time when the offender is awaiting disposition of a case. It was also found that they are in a position to influence the treatment and rehabilitation of the indigent offender. (Author/BW)

Redefines the advocacy role in social work and demonstrates how a social influence typology can clarify contradictions in the social psychology literature. The typology helps the social worker match the manner in which advocacy is attempted to specific details of the situation. (Author/JAC)

Explores factors behind the lack of effective services for battered women delivered by the social work and legal professions. Proposes a model of multidisciplinary intervention with four basic components: intake, social work intervention, legal intervention, and collaborative activities. (Author/JAC)

Whether the union is jeopardized by disappointment, fear of not achieving satisfaction in life, or other problems, the couple in crisis may turn to divorce as the lesser evil. The mediation process is of potential value to those couples who may want to avoid protracted, painful lawsuits. (Author)

Examines transnational legal interventions instituted in response to intimate violence and assesses propriety of the criminal model. Using postmodern social work theory and practice, article promotes the idea of a more workable alternative response--a domestic violence commission that gives more power to battered women. (FC)