Building Resilience for Clients and Attorneys: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Pro Bono Legal Services

This presentation was part of day 1 of the ABA CILA & COI Pro Bono Symposium.

Understanding the profound impact of trauma on our clients and acknowledging its effects on us, the direct service providers, forms the foundation of a sustainable and healthy immigration practice. While legal services organizations have started integrating trauma-informed practices into their policies and staff training, pro bono attorneys often lack access to similar resources, despite being equally exposed to client trauma. In this session, pro bono coordinators will learn how to develop trauma-informed initiatives and mentor pro bono attorneys to provide representation grounded in dignity, autonomy, cultural humility, and resilience.