robin600

Hey guys. I am a current JD/MSW student at Washington University in St. Louis. I ultimately want to go into holistic public defense (criminal defense and social services in one office). I love the perspective that both degrees offer me! I think anyone interested in public interest law, or policy advocacy social work should get both degrees. JacobA- You can't counsel the same person in both law and social work, but I know many people who practice both. I have a friend who works at a domestic violence legal clinic part time and has her own private mental health practice part time as well. It's possible to do both. There is also something called mitigation work in the court system that mixes both social work and law. Mitigation revolves around helping alleviate the collateral consequences that come from a criminal conviction. I have friends that are alums who do lobbying work in DC, work in family court, domestic violence legislation and much more. I interned at one of 2 holistic defense agencies this summer and received an Equal Justice Work summer fellowship. I think part of the reason I was selected for these was because of my dual degree program. I highly recommend the program.