Sharing knowledge on trauma-informed lawyering

Kamaljit Lehal and Deanna Okun-Nachoff recently shared their work on trauma informed lawyering following their participation in the 13th Asia Pro Bono Conference and Access to Justice Exchange in Mongolia.

They explained that trauma, particularly complex trauma, can significantly affect how individuals engage with the justice system. When legal actors misunderstand trauma’s impact on memory, communication, or emotional regulation, vulnerable clients may be unfairly judged or inadvertently re-traumatized.

They emphasized the need for legal systems to recognize trauma informed advocacy as essential to fairness and access to justice. Their presentation highlighted practices that centre empathy, collaboration, cultural humility, and accommodations that support meaningful participation for trauma affected clients.

Their experience in Mongolia reinforced the global importance of trauma informed approaches and the shared commitment among legal professionals to improve justice outcomes for vulnerable people.

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