This resource is from the “Strategies for Connecting with Survivors Involved with Legal Proceedings” Toolkit.
This document, “Trauma-Informed Legal Advocacy (TILA): Practice Scenarios Series – Staying on Track,” offers guidance for legal advocates and lawyers on applying trauma-informed principles when working with survivors of domestic violence (DV), particularly when managing time constraints and seemingly “off-track” conversations.
It explores reasons why survivors may struggle to stay focused (e.g., fear, trauma triggers, cognitive/psychiatric disability, TBI, substance use) and emphasizes an accessibility and trauma-informed approach, advocating for taking more time when possible. The resource provides strategies for collaborating with survivors on how to use limited time effectively, including acknowledging time limits, clarifying roles and services, and setting shared goals. It also offers respectful techniques for redirecting conversations that go “off track,” such as respectful interruption, acknowledging concerns, re-clarifying what can/cannot be helped with, and jointly deciding on priorities for the remaining time. The overall aim is to increase the accessibility of legal services while remaining survivor-centered.