Lawyers deal with people living through extraordinary circumstances, and often see the worst of human behaviour. While we have dealt with traumatised clients using common sense for generations, science now allows us to understand more precisely the serious impacts that current or unresolved childhood traumas can have on our clients’ health and ability to function. Firms and counsel can use these insights in very practical ways to shape their service-delivery model and client interactions, so as to help clients better. They can resist re-traumatisation of clients and remove unintended obstacles to them being able to receive their services effectively.

A free hybrid (in-person and virtual) conference at Queen’s University on 10 November from 5.00 to 7.30pm will provide practical briefings on the basics of the trauma informed approach and what it means in family, criminal, legacy and general practice.