Trauma-Informed Representation of Older Adults

The prevalence of trauma among older adults and its impact on the attorneys assisting them implores all legal advocates to adopt trauma-informed practices to strengthen the lawyer-client relationship and prevent secondary trauma. This program explores the basics of trauma-informed lawyering and how any attorney can bring trauma-informed practices into their everyday work.

This program provides:

• An overview of what trauma and trauma-informed lawyering is and how it is beneficial to legal services attorneys serving older adults.
• Strategies for implementing trauma-informed practices.
• How trauma-informed practices can assist attorneys in serving clients facing mental health challenges.
• Common ways trauma manifests for older adult clients and ways to reduce re-traumatization.
• How trauma informed practice aligns with an attorney’s ethical duties to their clients.

Moderator

Nina Loewenstein, Esq.

Disability Law Center, Supervising Attorney

Co-Chair of Mental Health Committee, NYSBA Elder Law & Special Needs Section

Speaker

Vivianne Mbaku

Justice in Aging, Director of Equity in Elder Justice