Utilising Action Research to Enhance Critical Social Work Practice: Ukraine's Experience of Introducing Community Paralegals

Abstract

The study was conducted to examine the course development process during which the perception of paralegal’s role in local communities of Ukraine was shaped. Based on action research and critical social work paradigm the study demonstrates the role of training participants in constructing new knowledge, and how the understanding of paralegals concept in Ukraine had changed under their influence. The findings from a few cycles of action research reveal that there are fewer limitations to be a paralegal in Ukraine, as it was presupposed, paralegals role has shifted from only service brokerage and providing information, to conflict-solving, and providing new initiatives in local communities, moreover, the educational program for paralegals was changed in terms of their requests and according to their regional specifics.