Trauma-Informed Law

Helgi is a co-editor and co-author of the book Trauma-Informed Law: A Primer for Lawyer Resilience and Healing, with Marjorie Florestal, Myrna McCallum and J. Kim Wright, published in Spring 2023 by the American Bar Association (Practice Management Division). In addition, Helgi Maki is a consultant and executive coach to lawyers and law firms. Helgi helps lawyers improve their resilience skills to benefit their legal practice and well-being and improve client satisfaction. She also provides training in trauma-informed law. Helgi Maki is a University of Toronto Faculty of Law graduate with an M.A. in Political Economy from Carleton University (Norman Paterson School of International Affairs). She joined the Ontario Bar in 2003 and the New York Bar in 2005. Helgi is an executive coach and consultant who helps lawyers use resilience skills to assist clients more effectively and improve their career satisfaction (including well-being). She incorporates mindfulness practices into her work, drawing on over seven years of mindfulness instructor & movement teacher training. Previously, she was a partner at a large law firm and has done legal technology & data analytics consulting. Helgi advocates for trauma-informed lawyering to increase access to justice, improve client service and support lawyer well-being. Her work is featured in the Canadian Supreme Court Law Review and the “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)” conference series convened by California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. In addition, Helgi has worked on various pro bono advocacy projects, including helping victim-witnesses of interpersonal violence advocate for federal judicial training on the connection between sexual assault and trauma, legislation for which came into force in May 2021. For details, see https://helgimaki.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/helgimaki/ Websites and social media accounts are noted below: Websites Coaching website: https://helgimaki.co/ Book Project website: https://www.traumainformedlaw.org/ Social media LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/helgimaki Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelgiMaki/ Contact details: Helgi Maki Generativity Co. Tel: 416.418.3204 Email: helgi@helgimaki.com (For consulting matters, email helgi.maki@generativityco.com ) Helgi Maki Currently resides in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Table of Contents:








Introduction to Trauma-Informed Lawyering
Why it Matters: The Context for Trauma-Informed Lawyering
Lawyers' Perspectives on Trauma: What is Trauma in the Law & Lawyering
Legal Practice and Trauma
Tools for Lawyers and Practice Areas: Underlying Principles of Trauma-Informed Tools
Trauma & Healing in Legal Systems: Courts and Judges
Legal Education and Trauma
Systems Change and Trauma: The Legal System and Systematic or Collective Trauma
Conclusion