Edinburgh Law School lecturer publishes new edition of leading social work law text
Thu 25 June 2026
Andrew Farrer, Lecturer in Mental Health Law and Tutor Mentor, has authored his first book, the fifth edition of Social Work Law in Scotland, a leading text on the legal framework within which social work operates in Scotland.
Published by Bloomsbury Professional last month, the book provides a practical guide to key areas of the law relevant to social work, including those relating to children, families, and adult services. The fifth edition has been updated to reflect significant recent legislative developments, including the Children (Scotland) Act 2020, which introduced widespread changes to the Children's Hearing system, and the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, which broadened the legal recognition of domestic abuse to include coercive control and psychological harm alongside physical violence.
Mr Farrer said: “Social Work Law in Scotland is a key text in social work education in Scotland. The previous editions of the book have long been a standard reference text for social work students and lecturers. I was very pleased to be asked to update such an important text and, in my current role as a legal academic, draw on my previous career in social work.”
Mr Farrer has been teaching at Edinburgh Law School for over ten years, and came into the field of law after a career in social work.
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