How to Conduct a Trauma-Informed Direct Examination with the Wildflower Alliance

How to Conduct a Direct Examination of your Client

With a Trauma-Informed Approach:

Partnering with your Client to Tell Their Own Story

Presented by: the Wildflower Alliance, the CPCS Mental Health Litigation Division

& the CPCS Holistic Defense Work Group

All staff and private counsel, come join us for this cross-practice training

April 28th on Zoom from 10:00am-12:00

2 CLE Credits:

Credits apply to Trial and Appeals Panels for CAFL, Criminal, MHLD, and YAD;

Credits also apply to the SDP/SORB and Parole Panels (not Medical Parole)

• We will learn about how to be client-centered and trauma-informed, partnering with our clients who want to testify in their own cases to tell their own stories.

• The training will include an interactive presentation and small group work with scenarios from the criminal, young adult, family regulation, and mental health systems.

• We are joined by our Wildflower Alliance colleagues, who bring their lived experiences as survivors from all oppressive and coercive carceral systems.

After the training, you will be able to:

• Recognize the difference between representing a client and advocating for a person,
• Understand that a victory or “win” is not simply the legal result of a court proceeding,
• Prepare your client to tell their story in an effective way to assist the fact-finder in their analysis of the evidence, and
• Educate the fact-finder to reframe the narrative about your client.

Any Questions?

Email MHLD Training Director, Beau Kealy: [email protected]

or Skailer Qvistgaard, HDWG Chair: [email protected]