Social workers are a vital part of legal defense teams. Their education and expertise lend itself well to the type of work that public defenders do. The client-centered approach to the practice of working with marginalized populations caught up in the carceral system is particularly important for those facing civil commitment, where commitment can be longer than a criminal sentence, or even indefinite. This training aims to provide a broad look at social workers in civil defense practice, what social workers can do to contribute as part of a multidisciplinary legal team, and the meaningful outcomes they produce.