Home      Login

Abstract: 

In this article, taken from their seminal book, Representing the Domestic Violence Survivor, Goldstein and Liu explore how attorneys can best engage with domestic violence survivors using a sensitive, trauma-informed interview process. The authors rely on their extensive experiences with representing DV victims to provide an essential guide for attorneys who serve this vulnerable population. This article provides specific tips on how to best solicit the information necessary for preparing a powerful legal case while ensuring that the client-survivor feels safe, empowered, and educated. Among the other guidelines included is, first and foremost, the development of a trusting relationship with the client, which in turn requires the demonstration of empathy, compassion, and respect along with an adequate understanding of trauma and human reactions to trauma—that is, DV attorneys must, by necessity, be trauma-informed, if they are to be able to effective serve these at-risk clients. Other recommendations include the subtleties of interacting with DV survivors, such as being alert for counter-transference feelings, being upfront about financial costs, and setting boundaries when necessary.

Keywords: Understanding Clients’ Responses to Trauma; Cultural Competency; Transference/Countertransference

Affiliations:  1: Attorney at Law; 2: Attorney at Law.