LCSW LAW & ETHICS PRACTICE TEST 2026
STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS, ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,1. Two social workers are dating. They are at dinner and C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients again.
they are talking about their clients. They discover that
each of them is seeing a different member of the same The rules of confidentiality would require the social workers to stop the discussion
couple for individual therapy. What should these social and not talk about these clients.
workers do?
Content Area: Law: Confidentiality, Privilege, and Consent
This question is about the legal responsibility of social
workers outside of the therapeutic setting discussing a
client.
A. No action is necessary since licensed health
professionals may consult for purposes of diagnosis and
treatment without a release.
B. Stop the discussion and obtain releases so that such
discussions in the future do not breach confidentiality.
C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients
again.
D. There are no legal or ethical guidelines requiring social
workers in such situations to do anything.
,2. Revocation of a LCSW's license after having been B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in order to pursue a sexual
found to have engaged in sexual misconduct with a client relationship.
would occur after:
Terminating therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship with a client is
Content Area: Ethics: Professional Competence and prohibited.
Preventing Harm
This question tests your knowledge of the penalties for
social workers having sex with a client.
A. A social worker filed a complaint with the BBS on
behalf of a client.
B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in
order to pursue a sexual relationship.
C. The social worker gives the client the pamphlet
"Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discusses
it with the client.
D. The BBS cites the offending social worker within 10
years of the statute of limitations.
3. Your client, George, tells you that his mother just got C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother.
remarried. He tells you that he is worried that the new
husband's children are going to go after his inheritance. You would maintain confidentiality because you do not know his mother's age and
He tells you that he has very little contact with the new you do not have "reasonable suspicion" of elder abuse.
family and wants to keep it that way. What is your legal
obligation?
Content Area: Law: Limits to Confidentiality/Mandated
Reporting
This question tests your knowledge of how to proceed
when you may need to assess for or report elder abuse.
A. You must asses for elder abuse, considering "undue
influence" regarding the mother's estate.
B. You should refer the client to an attorney to determine
if he has a case.
C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the
age of the mother.
D. Report elder abuse, considering "abandonment"
because he has "very little contact" with his mother.
, 4. Ki is a 26-year-old Korean who immigrated to the U.S. C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits of therapy may be that he "finds himself"
with his father 10 years ago. Ki wants to be an artist but his but may change some of his family values.
father has saved his money and demands that Ki goes to
medical school like his grandfather. Ki says he's Informing a client about the risks and benefits of therapy which includes altering
depressed and he would rather die than become a their sense of self and their family, is an ethical obligation.
doctor. He says he's too stupid to pass the classes in
medical school anyway. He doesn't know how to tell his
father. The social worker determines that Ki is not suicidal.
The most appropriate ethical intervention is to:
Content Area: Ethics: Therapeutic Relationship/Services
This question tests your knowledge of the ethical
obligations that pertain to cultural competence.
A. Recognize the importance of cultural considerations
and acknowledge that Ki may have to follow his father's
wishes.
B. Ask Ki to bring his father in for a family session because
of cultural values that encourage respect for elders.
C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits of therapy may be
that he "finds himself" but may change some of his family
values.
D. Ask to see Ki's artwork to reframe him as an individual
and your alliance as a place where he can be an
individual.
5. June discloses that she had been molested by a step- B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discuss
brother when she was 15. She is now 28 and was divorced her options.
from her husband three years ago. Before seeing you,
she saw another therapist and she has just told you that Therapist sex with a client is prohibited. When a client reveals that s/he has had
she had sex with him. She wants therapy to focus on the sex with a former therapist, the treating mental health professional is required to
stormy relationship issues that led to her divorce, not on give her/him the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex," as well as
past sexual molestation or exploitation. You would: discuss it with them.
Content Area: Law: Legal Standards for Professional
Practice, tests your understanding of the legal
responsibilities of therapists who learn that a client has
had sex with a previous therapist.
A. Respect her wishes and continue to focus on resolving
the issues on which she wants to work.
B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never
Includes Sex" and discuss her options.
C. Report the therapist to the BBS to protect the other
therapist's present and future clients.
D. Work on the sexual exploitation in therapy.
STUDY GUIDE | QUESTIONS, ANSWERS &
RATIONALES
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,1. Two social workers are dating. They are at dinner and C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients again.
they are talking about their clients. They discover that
each of them is seeing a different member of the same The rules of confidentiality would require the social workers to stop the discussion
couple for individual therapy. What should these social and not talk about these clients.
workers do?
Content Area: Law: Confidentiality, Privilege, and Consent
This question is about the legal responsibility of social
workers outside of the therapeutic setting discussing a
client.
A. No action is necessary since licensed health
professionals may consult for purposes of diagnosis and
treatment without a release.
B. Stop the discussion and obtain releases so that such
discussions in the future do not breach confidentiality.
C. Stop the discussion and do not talk about these clients
again.
D. There are no legal or ethical guidelines requiring social
workers in such situations to do anything.
,2. Revocation of a LCSW's license after having been B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in order to pursue a sexual
found to have engaged in sexual misconduct with a client relationship.
would occur after:
Terminating therapy in order to pursue a sexual relationship with a client is
Content Area: Ethics: Professional Competence and prohibited.
Preventing Harm
This question tests your knowledge of the penalties for
social workers having sex with a client.
A. A social worker filed a complaint with the BBS on
behalf of a client.
B. The BBS found that the therapist terminated therapy in
order to pursue a sexual relationship.
C. The social worker gives the client the pamphlet
"Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discusses
it with the client.
D. The BBS cites the offending social worker within 10
years of the statute of limitations.
3. Your client, George, tells you that his mother just got C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the age of the mother.
remarried. He tells you that he is worried that the new
husband's children are going to go after his inheritance. You would maintain confidentiality because you do not know his mother's age and
He tells you that he has very little contact with the new you do not have "reasonable suspicion" of elder abuse.
family and wants to keep it that way. What is your legal
obligation?
Content Area: Law: Limits to Confidentiality/Mandated
Reporting
This question tests your knowledge of how to proceed
when you may need to assess for or report elder abuse.
A. You must asses for elder abuse, considering "undue
influence" regarding the mother's estate.
B. You should refer the client to an attorney to determine
if he has a case.
C. Maintain confidentiality because you do not know the
age of the mother.
D. Report elder abuse, considering "abandonment"
because he has "very little contact" with his mother.
, 4. Ki is a 26-year-old Korean who immigrated to the U.S. C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits of therapy may be that he "finds himself"
with his father 10 years ago. Ki wants to be an artist but his but may change some of his family values.
father has saved his money and demands that Ki goes to
medical school like his grandfather. Ki says he's Informing a client about the risks and benefits of therapy which includes altering
depressed and he would rather die than become a their sense of self and their family, is an ethical obligation.
doctor. He says he's too stupid to pass the classes in
medical school anyway. He doesn't know how to tell his
father. The social worker determines that Ki is not suicidal.
The most appropriate ethical intervention is to:
Content Area: Ethics: Therapeutic Relationship/Services
This question tests your knowledge of the ethical
obligations that pertain to cultural competence.
A. Recognize the importance of cultural considerations
and acknowledge that Ki may have to follow his father's
wishes.
B. Ask Ki to bring his father in for a family session because
of cultural values that encourage respect for elders.
C. Inform Ki that the risks and benefits of therapy may be
that he "finds himself" but may change some of his family
values.
D. Ask to see Ki's artwork to reframe him as an individual
and your alliance as a place where he can be an
individual.
5. June discloses that she had been molested by a step- B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex" and discuss
brother when she was 15. She is now 28 and was divorced her options.
from her husband three years ago. Before seeing you,
she saw another therapist and she has just told you that Therapist sex with a client is prohibited. When a client reveals that s/he has had
she had sex with him. She wants therapy to focus on the sex with a former therapist, the treating mental health professional is required to
stormy relationship issues that led to her divorce, not on give her/him the brochure "Professional Therapy Never Includes Sex," as well as
past sexual molestation or exploitation. You would: discuss it with them.
Content Area: Law: Legal Standards for Professional
Practice, tests your understanding of the legal
responsibilities of therapists who learn that a client has
had sex with a previous therapist.
A. Respect her wishes and continue to focus on resolving
the issues on which she wants to work.
B. Give her the brochure "Professional Therapy Never
Includes Sex" and discuss her options.
C. Report the therapist to the BBS to protect the other
therapist's present and future clients.
D. Work on the sexual exploitation in therapy.
