The area of psychology has several strands, among them legal psychology In this text, you will learn more about what is legal psychology. We will start with the concept, going through the presence in Brazil, up to the salary range. At the end, we will talk about a course available in the area. So, check out our post and learn more about this area!

Table of Contents

• What is legal psychology
  • Find out more...
• Major areas of legal psychology
• Legal Psychology in Brazil
• Areas of operation
  • Criminal legal psychology
  • Civil legal psychology
  • Legal psychology and child and adolescent law
  • Legal Psychology and Family Law
  • Legal Psychology and Labor Law
• How much does a legal psychologist earn?
• Workplace
• Final considerations
  • Did you like to learn more about this area?

What is legal psychology

Legal psychology works in conjunction with the field of law, as the name implies. The object of study is the same as in other areas of psychology - human behavior. But it is focused on the legal field.

The professional in this area will be called upon to analyze cases in which the judge orders the issuance of a psychological report of the person involved in the judicial process. The psychologist will evaluate the defendant's mental state and give his opinion in order to assist in the final verdict.

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Just to illustrate the importance of this professional, let's imagine a scenario. Imagine that a legal psychologist alleges mental insanity of an accused person. In this case, the judge may convert the sentence into internment in a psychiatric hospital. Therefore, his role is of extreme importance.

The legal psychologist's place of work is, in particular, in court. However, he will analyze cases not only in the criminal court, but also those related to the family and work spheres. There is a diversity of options in legal psychology.

Major areas of legal psychology

Legal psychology has several focuses, such as:

• investigative;
• criminal;
• forensics;
• penitentiary;
• and, finally, police.

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Legal Psychology in Brazil

First of all, the legal practice of psychology is something recent in Brazil. It became recognized in the early 1960s through Law No. 4.119. Since then, the profession has only grown and has been gaining more and more relevance in social life.

There are no historical records of its emergence, but it is assumed that it started informally enough, and gradually consolidated itself until it reached the formality it has today.

Legal psychology has been established in Brazil as an area of extreme importance for the resolution of judicial cases.

Areas of operation

Since the field of legal psychology has many facets, it is possible to choose from a wide range of options, whether criminal or civil, here are some of the possibilities for those who wish to pursue this field.

Criminal legal psychology

Perhaps the best known field of work, as it is portrayed in movies and TV series, is legal psychology with a criminal focus. In this situation, the professional may be called upon to do a mental health evaluation of suspects in order to understand the motivations for the crime.

Civil legal psychology

The professional who works in the civil area will have to deal with cases of compensation for psychological damage (sequels caused by a traumatic situation). In addition, he can intervene in interdictions motivated by mental incapacity, including the validity or not of signed agreements, among other related issues.

Legal psychology and child and adolescent law

The professional who works on behalf of issues related to the rights of children and adolescents is essential. He or she acts in the resolution of adoption and family destitution cases, by alleging the psychological state of parents and/or guardians and the state of the child and/or adolescent itself.

Legal Psychology and Family Law

In the work within the family sphere, the legal psychology professional works with contentious divorce processes, where conflict mediation is necessary. In addition, he or she is part of the group of professionals who decide on custody or shared custody between the parents.

Legal Psychology and Labor Law

In the labor area, the legal psychologist can testify how working conditions affect the worker's mental health. Only this professional can issue a report to confirm the situation and ensure the proper penalties and compensation for both the company and the worker.

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Now that we know more about the areas in which this professional works, let's find out about his salary, so, keep reading our post!

How much does a legal psychologist earn?

Are you interested in this area and want to know how much a legal psychologist earns? We will take into account research with data from the General Cadastre for Employed and Unemployed (CAGED) between March 2020 and February 2021. The calculated average salary of a legal psychologist is R$ 3,067.34 for an average working day of 34 hours.

The average salary floor is R$2,799.52 (2021) and the ceiling, R$4,951.60, considering professionals who work with a signed contract. The salary is very good, even more so because of the expansion of the area in the Brazilian market.

But it is worth pointing out that the remuneration is variable and depends on how long the professional has worked and the size of the company where he or she works. In addition, the values also vary, as it depends on the region of the country. And, finally, São Paulo has the highest average salary.

Workplace

The main path to a career in the field of legal psychology is the court of justice, both because of the demand for work and the higher average salary. As we said at the beginning of this post, there are several areas of activity in the public sector. In the private sector, it is possible to work in clinics, NGOs, among others.

The work in public institutions can be done on several fronts. You can work in the courts (family, childhood and youth), in addition to assisting magistrates. You can be allocated to the labor courts to help with labor issues. In addition, you can assist the Public Prosecutor's Office on issues.

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Final considerations

In general, psychology has been gaining more and more importance for the balance of people's lives. And the career in the area of legal psychology is promising in Brazil, considering the importance of this professional in judicial matters.

Besides, this is a profession that deals with very important and delicate matters. And, to become a good professional, it is necessary to study hard and complete a course in the area. Below, we will give you a special tip for those who wish to pursue a career in this area.

Did you like to learn more about this area?

Then don't miss the chance to enroll in our Clinical Psychoanalysis course, which is 100% online and you can attend classes from the comfort of your own home.

Finally, this is the opportunity to invest in your career and, who knows, change your life for the better. legal psychology. And, what's more, to become a legal psychologist! Sign up now and start today!

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