Summary

Trauma, or the psychological response to stressors that is beyond one’s ability to cope, is a part of most clients’ lives and can interfere with their ability to understand concepts, retain information, and process experiences. This can significantly impact a lawyer’s ability to effectively communicate and advocate for clients. In this training, we will explore

• trauma causes and responses.
• the impact on the forward movement of a legal case when the client is having trauma responses.
• the trauma exposure lawyers experience.
• strategies that can increase effectiveness when working with a client who experiences traumatic responses.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this training, lawyers will be able to

1. Define trauma and identify its causes.
2. Understand the impact of trauma on clients and lawyers.
3. Identify how legal professionals may be exposed to trauma and its effects.
4. Select strategies that align with the rules of professional conduct that can be used to mitigate the effects of trauma in the legal relationship.