As a family law attorney, I have worked to shape my representation of clients to meet the unique needs of each family. It’s part of my “why” – families cannot be forced into a specific mold and not every approach will work for every client. While some systems can and should be streamlined, I believe it’s important to humanize the process as well.
Over the years, I have specialized in representing victims of domestic abuse, whether financial, emotional, or physical. I am striving to provide a deeper understanding of abuse to the justice system through my representation, while still balancing the unfortunate reality that not every individual sees domestic abuse the same way. Domestic abuse can be subtle, leaving the victim unable to truly articulate what happened, and equally important, how we can prevent it in the future. Even absent domestic abuse, involvement in family law proceedings may be traumatic for individuals in and of itself. I know the importance of meeting clients where they are and understanding how this type of trauma may impact their behavior.
Still, I do not have all the answers and am constantly looking for opportunities for growth. In February 2023, I was a presenter in a webinar hosted by MOMentum, Navigating Domestic Violence/Harassment in Family Court. I love opportunities like these, as there were so many women with diverse backgrounds contributing to the conversation. Some had been through family law cases themselves, and some were professionals that assisted other women through the process. It’s so important to listen and learn from others who may share different perspectives so that we may learn new approaches to present these issues to the justice system. In furthering the public’s understanding of these issues, I have also presented on domestic violence awareness and special considerations for individuals facing family law issues at various Wine, Women, and Wealth events.
Last week, I attended a webinar called Trauma Informed Legal Services for Survivors hosted by Safe House Project. This webinar reminded me of just how much work we must do to reduce harm to our clients. The presenters discussed the need to adjust the attorney-client relationship when representing a victim of trauma as well as the potential ethical responsibilities we owe to survivors. Further, the impact on attorneys who are not trained in trauma informed legal services can be just as great as the impact on the client who feels they aren’t being heard.
At Barnhill Family Law, we want our clients to feel heard and empowered. We strive to collaborate with our clients and give them agency over their case. This requires clear communication about the options available to our clients, as well as an opportunity for clients to provide constructive feedback about their needs. We understand that our clients may be predisposed to lack trust in lawyers and the justice system as a whole, and we want to change that notion for them. Although we cannot control the justice system, we can control how we impact our clients through our own actions.
As always, we are going to continue looking for ways to learn from and educate others about effective representation of survivors or those experiencing trauma as a result of family law proceedings. We have various resources available to those who need them, and are always ready to talk about the options available at our office.