Trauma-Informed Lawyering

Catalog description

This course explores the prevalence of trauma in the legal system—from the maladaptive coping behaviors that sometimes result in involvement in the system as a defendant, to the legal processes that may fail to address or even exacerbate trauma, to the vicarious or secondary trauma experienced by those who work in the legal system. It also recognizes that trauma exists outside the criminal legal system, investigating how trauma may present in other populations as well. With a blend of psychology and law, this course aims to arm soon-to-be lawyers with knowledge about trauma-informed care and practices.