Secondary and Vicarious Trauma: Creating a Work Culture that Supports Yourself & Employees

Join Instructors Diana Adams, Esq & Andy Izenson, Esq. for this 1.5 credit hour Continuing Legal Education Course.

Many attorneys frequently support clients who are in crisis or have significant trauma, and often play an important role in a client’s support system. Although this work is rewarding, it can weigh heavily on practitioners, sometimes resulting in secondary or vicarious trauma. This kind of trauma can have a substantial effect on one’s own mental health and well-being as well as on professional capacity. As a result, many legal services offices churn through employees who leave after a short time because the work is unsustainable. As we strive to create justice for our communities and clients, this class invites introspection into how we can also better care for our employees, co-workers, and selves, to promote resiliency and the ability to continue in advocacy without burnout or trauma. This CLE will address not only how to recognize the symptoms of burnout or trauma, but how to create workplaces that prevent and respond to it.

Credits

Course offers 1.5 credits in areas of Law Practice Management

Certification

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance for CLE reporting purposes issued under NYS CLE Program Rules §1500.4(b)(12) and NYS CLE Board Regulations & Guidelines §10(B). Certificates will be received electronically after completion of the class and verification of attendance.

Accreditation

Application for New York CLE accreditation is currently pending.Attorneys in other jurisdictions may be eligible for credit pursuant to reciprocity or self-reporting rules; please consult your state’s CLE authority.

Financial Aid Policy

Chosen Family Law Center is a grassroots non-profit organization with expertise in LGBTQIA+ and non-nuclear family law. All course fees support our free direct legal services, public education, and legislative drafting at grassroots and local levels.

We aim to make our courses accessible to attorneys across the spectrum. From community-based movement lawyers, to solo practitioners, to those working in mid-size or larger firms – our goal is to expand the national network of culturally competent attorneys broadly, and our course costs reflect this.

We use a sliding scale for our classes to reflect the range of circumstances our course participants find themselves in.

Please select the rate that best reflects your situation:

• Accessible Rate: Individuals who work in a social justice organization, are a community-based movement lawyer, or operate in a low-income or rural area, AND whose employers are unable to pay for the course on their behalf.
• Suggested Rate: Individuals who are solo practitioners and individuals who work for a small-sized law firm
• Sustainable Rate: Individuals who work at a mid-sized law firm (up to 20 attorneys), Individuals who work at a large-sized law firm (over 20 attorneys)

If you're interested in attending additional Continuing Legal Education courses with the Chosen Family Law Center, you can learn more about our other offerings on our website.

If you would like to be kept updated on our upcoming CLE's in 2027, you can sign up here to be notified about updates and new courses as they launch.