Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Practicing Lawyers and a Pathway for Resilience and Healing - Helgi Maki

Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Practicing Lawyers and a Pathway for Resilience and Healing Helgi Maki ISBN 9781639052752

Trauma-Informed Law explores the many ways trauma intersects with the legal system—often where it is denied, overlooked, concealed, or actively avoided. Designed for lawyers, law students, legal educators, and judges, the book is also highly relevant for decision-makers, administrators, court staff, and anyone affected by or working within the justice system.

The book presents a rich collection of real-world cases and scenarios that illustrate how trauma influences legal outcomes and professional practice. These examples carry practical implications not only within the same area of law, but across multiple legal disciplines and institutional settings. The discussion addresses how trauma intersects with race, class, gender, physical and mental disabilities, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of diversity, as well as developmental health issues, addiction, substance use, poverty, access to opportunity, community safety, and belonging.

Each scenario offers actionable insights that help legal professionals recognize trauma, respond more effectively, and improve outcomes for clients, colleagues, and institutions. By emphasizing both individual and systemic impacts, the book demonstrates how trauma-aware approaches can strengthen legal practice and promote fairness throughout the legal system.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Trauma-Informed Lawyering

• Why It Matters: The Context for Trauma-Informed Lawyering

• Lawyers’ Perspectives on Trauma: What Is Trauma in Law and Lawyering

• Legal Practice and Trauma

• Tools for Lawyers and Practice Areas: Core Principles of Trauma-Informed Approaches

• Trauma and Healing in Legal Systems: Courts and Judges

• Legal Education and Trauma

• Systems Change and Trauma: The Legal System and Collective or Systemic Trauma

• Conclusion

Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Practicing Lawyers and a Pathway for Resilience and Healing Helgi Maki ISBN 9781639052752, 978-1639052752 & 9781639052769

Editors
Helgi Maki
Marjorie Florestal
Myrna McCallum
J Kim Wright