From Leeds law to social justice: the inspiring journey of Dr Steve Rogowski

A Leeds Law alumnus on critical practice, advocacy, and five decades in social work.

Leeds roots and early inspirations 

Born and raised in Leeds, Dr Steve Rogowski’s (Law ‘72) early life unfolded in the shadow of the University in 1950’s Woodhouse. He remembers “walking past the university every morning and afternoon” with his younger brother Michael, and wondering if he’d ever study there (Michael also graduated from the School of Law!). Campus traditions also made their mark: RAG Day, with coins tossed onto lorries carrying students in fancy dress, remains a vivid memory. Today, Steve lives in Saddleworth, Oldham, carrying those formative Leeds experiences with him. 

Choosing law: a practical path with long-term impact 

While history and geography were his favourite subjects, family guidance and teacher encouragement nudged Steve toward law: “something more useful in terms of a career”. With Leeds’ reputation and a trusted friend already on the course, staying local felt right. That decision laid a foundation for the rights-based advocacy that would define his professional life. 

Student life: study, community, and culture 

Steve’s academic memories include respected tutors such as Professor Hogan and Ms Roberts, but it was “the student life” that truly stayed with him: playing football for the law team, watching bands, “especially the Stones!” in the Refectory, and the pubs stretching from campus to Hyde Park and Headingley. Those years blended intellectual challenge with community, culture, and belonging. 

Career shift: from civil service to social work 

After graduating, Steve considered diverse career paths; racecourse management, retail management, before joining the Civil Service as an employment adviser. There, he became attuned to the wider issues people faced beyond work: “health and disability”, among others. Social work offered a way to respond. Seconded by Derbyshire County Council to study at Lancaster University, he began practice in Derbyshire and later at Oldham Council, initially as a generic practitioner and ultimately specialising with children and families. 

Social work across changing policy landscapes 

Steve’s career in social work began amid the post-war social democratic consensus, when the state helped ensure access to health, education, housing, and employment. He saw that landscape shift in the 1980s under Thatcher and Reagan, as managerialism and market logics took hold. The role of social work changed too; “from offering genuine help and support” toward a system where bureaucracy rationed resources and practitioners faced tighter control. Yet he insists that space remains for “critical, even radical, practice” work that provides genuine support while tackling structural causes and centring social justice. 

Law as a foundation for advocacy 

Steve’s Leeds legal training shaped his approach across tribunals, case conferences, and community work.  

An understanding of law and advocacy encouraged and enabled me to support and uphold people’s rights more generally, something which in turn can help drive social justice and social change.

Linking research and practice 

Alongside frontline work, Steve pursued research and study at Sheffield Hallam, Bristol, and Manchester Metropolitan Universities, always “geared to practice” so that clients’ needs came first. That stance sometimes created tension between practitioner values and managerial priorities, but it was “valued by clients, colleagues and some enlightened managers”, and it strengthened his commitment to principled, rights‑focused practice. 

 

Writing to make a difference 

Steve proudly recalls a teacher saying he liked Steve’s letter to the Yorkshire Evening Post (about Leeds United!) written whilst at school, and this lifelong love of writing eventually led to books and articles drawn from lived practice. He cites two of his books as deserving mention: Social Work: The Rise and Fall of a Profession? and Critical Social Work with Children and Families: Theory, Context and Practice (both second editions published in 2020 and 2024 respectively by Bristol University’s Policy Press), which present critical perspectives “written by a long‑standing practitioner rather than an academic per se”, and offer detailed, real-world examples. 

Advice to current students and graduates 

Gaining a law degree is a considerable and praiseworthy achievement. Importantly, however, it does not necessarily have to tie you down to a career in law.

As Steve’s journey shows, legal training opens doors across sectors, from social care to community advocacy, where analytical thinking and a commitment to rights are powerful assets. 

Legacy: help, justice, and change 

Looking back, Steve hopes his work champions social work’s core mission: to help and support people while advancing social justice. He wants the profession’s “supporting/helping and social change/social justice” role to flourish, outweighing managerial rationing and control. 

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