ACAT: A Trauma-Informed, Anti-Racist Approach to Legal Advocacy

Burnout, capacity, vicarious trauma, and structural racism continue to be pressing issues for legal advocates, especially during a pandemic and civil rights uprising. This training is designed to help you rethink your approach to legal advocacy entirely which will result in increased sustainability for you as the advocate, holistic care for the people you serve, and outcomes that disrupt unjust systems. This training, presented by attorney Lorilei Williams, will provide a basic introduction to concepts relating to trauma and race, leading up to a four-part model that guides legal advocates to tangibly engage in a trauma-informed, anti-racist approach to legal advocacy. This training is designed to provide a small taste of everything that can be learned, developed, and strengthened to help attorneys become agents of change and directly impact individuals and communities we serve.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an introduction to the concepts of trauma, racism, and intersectional oppression and learn how to create and engage an anti-racist approach in your legal advocacy

2. Collaborate with clients and colleagues across differences

3. Adapt your lawyering approach strategically with new systems and design thinking tools designed to help process trauma and achieve resilience and sustainability for attorneys