Trauma-Informed Lawyering: A Human-Centered CLE for Client Advocacy

Aug 14, 2025
2 min read

The legal system was not designed with vulnerable users in mind. Clients navigating trauma, mental health challenges, or substance abuse don't just face legal barriers, they face communication barriers, trust barriers, and the weight of past experiences that shape every interaction they have with attorneys and legal institutions. This CLE is about what attorneys can do about that, which helps you reach a better outcome for the case.

Erin Greenawald brings an unusually deep foundation to this topic. A certified Forensic Experiential Trauma Interview (FETI) trainer, she has spent her career representing crime victims and survivors at the Oregon Department of Justice and both the Yamhill and Marion County District Attorney's Offices. Her human-centered, trauma-informed approach isn't theoretical but the product of years of direct advocacy work with marginalized communities and survivors of abuse.

The course delivers ten concrete, immediately applicable techniques for building trust, improving communication, and creating the kind of environment where clients feel safe enough to engage fully with their own legal representation. Greenawald covers how to recognize and respond to clients' unique backgrounds and circumstances, how to navigate sensitive situations without compounding harm, and how to be aware of the power dynamics that shape every attorney-client interaction, whether attorneys acknowledge them or not. The goal isn't just better client relationships but also better case outcomes and a legal practice that actually delivers on the promise of equal access to justice.

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We work with skilled attorneys and experts who bring practical, real-world insight to their CLEs. From appellate advocacy to ethics, our courses are designed to be useful, engaging, and immediately applicable to your practice.