Trauma-Informed Lawyering
Thriving Lawyers. Better Outcomes. Resilient Firms.
Trauma-informed lawyering is an approach that recognizes how trauma affects people involved in the legal system — clients, witnesses, and even attorneys. It emphasizes safety, trust, and collaboration to promote more ethical, effective, and sustainable legal practice.
Why It Matters
Many clients involved in legal cases — especially around violence, abuse, or discrimination — have experienced trauma.
Trauma affects how people remember, communicate, and make decisions.
Lawyers are also exposed to trauma, often vicariously, through repeated stories of harm, injustice, or suffering.
A trauma-informed approach protects clients from harm and helps lawyers maintain clarity, empathy, and resilience.
Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Lawyering
Safety
Create a space — physically and emotionally — where clients feel secure.
Trustworthiness & Transparency
Be clear about processes, timelines, and expectations. Consistency builds trust.
Collaboration & Mutuality
Share power. Involve clients in decisions. Respect their expertise in their own experiences.
Empowerment & Choice
Center client autonomy. Provide options. Avoid pushing people beyond their emotional limits.
Cultural, Historical & Gender Responsiveness
Recognize how race, gender, identity, and systemic oppression shape how trauma is experienced and understood.
Trauma-Informed Practice in Action
Client Meetings: Prioritize empathy, clear language, and pacing that honors the client’s emotional state.
Witness Prep: Avoid “grilling.” Build trust and work with — not against — memory limitations and triggers.
Jury Strategy: Understand how jurors may respond emotionally to trauma narratives.
Attorney Well-Being: Acknowledge the emotional toll of legal work. Build habits and systems that support resilience.
Trauma-Informed ≠ Therapy
Being trauma-informed doesn’t mean being a therapist.
It means being an attuned, ethical, and strategic legal advocate who understands how trauma shapes behavior — and adapts accordingly.
Learn More
To see how Empower Trial Consulting incorporates trauma-informed practices into litigation support and training, contact us.