Ohio State Bar Foundation to host 2024 Trauma-Informed Lawyering Symposium
The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) is pleased to announce the 2024 Trauma-Informed Lawyering Symposium which will bring together experts to explore how trauma intersects with the legal system and impacts legal professionals. Panelists will offer attendees the opportunity to learn more about trauma-informed care, its application in legal contexts, and its neurological implications. The program takes place at the Ohio Statehouse on May 2 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The symposium emcee is Colleen Marshall, NBC4 News Anchor and Attorney at Law.
The symposium is the culmination of the yearlong efforts of the 2023 Class of OSBF Fellows. As part of their class project, this year's Fellows came together to create and execute this symposium, focused on the critical topic of Trauma Informed Lawyering.
Panel discussions will center on strategies for managing legal matters intertwined with trauma, with a focus on the resilience necessary for individuals affected by trauma and the legal professionals aiding them. This symposium aims to provide a rich learning experience for legal practitioners striving to deepen their comprehension of trauma-informed lawyering.
The first panel, moderated by Samantha Salamon, 2023 OSBF Fellow and Chief Counsel at Asian Services in Action, Inc., will explore the essence of trauma-informed care and its application in the legal system. Discussions will encompass the neurological effects of trauma, representing trauma-informed clients and recognizing signs and red flags of trauma.
Panelists include Arianna Galligher, Associate Director of The Ohio State University's Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR) program, and Kim Kehl, Trauma-Informed Care Project Manager at the Ohio Department of Children & Youth.
"As an attorney, I've witnessed firsthand the profound impact trauma has on the legal system. Spearheading this educational program as a 2024 OSBF Fellow has been a unique opportunity for me to shed light on this critical issue,” said Salamon. “I'm confident that this initiative will empower legal professionals to navigate trauma-informed lawyering with compassion and efficacy, ultimately fostering a more just and understanding legal system."
The second panel, led by Tim Young, the former Ohio State Public Defender, will focus on the intersection of trauma and the legal profession, examining its effects on victims, lawyers, judges and the legal system. Practical approaches for legal professionals to handle trauma-related cases will be discussed, along with strategies for maintaining resilience.
Panelists for this session include Hon. Linda Teodosio, Juvenile Court Judge from Summit County; Erica Young, Assistant Public Defender at Knox County Public Defender’s Office; and Alexandria Ruden, Supervising Attorney at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.
The Trauma-Informed Lawyering Symposium will also feature a success story conversation between Knox County Public Defender Erica Young and artist and advocate Alfred Cleveland. In 2020, Cleveland was released from prison after serving 25-1⁄2 years for a crime he did not commit. Cleveland will share his personal journey as a wrongly incarcerated individual, shedding light on his experiences with trauma and how trauma-informed lawyering supported him during this challenging period.
Finally, the symposium will conclude with a special performance created through a collaboration between Al Cleveland and Columbus-based WAV (We Amplify Voices), an organization that fosters healing and connection through the arts. Working with diverse groups, including underserved youth, adults with developmental disabilities, incarcerated individuals, and survivors of human trafficking, WAV offers safe spaces and empowering workshops. Cleveland and WAV will present a special performance which includes a song created through a WAV workshop.
“The OSBF is deeply committed to improving the legal system and educating attorneys, ensuring they are better equipped to navigate the complexities of the people they serve,” said Belinda S. Barnes, OSBF President. “This symposium serves as a vital platform for legal professionals to gain invaluable insights into the complexities of trauma and its profound impact on our justice system. By fostering dialogue and providing resources, we strive to empower our colleagues to approach their practice with compassion and empathy.”
General Admission is $25 and open to the public. For attorneys, 3.5 hours of Ohio CLE credits are offered for this program. Register at http://www.osbf.org/TILS2024.
Limited funds are available to cover the cost of registration for those experiencing financial hardship. For more information or questions, email Lisa Ray at LRay@osbf.org.
About the Ohio State Bar Foundation: The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking organization and the largest bar foundation in the U.S. Through our grants and programs, the OSBF promotes philanthropy and encourages service to create a more just and equitable legal system for all Ohioans.
Since 1992, the Ohio State Bar Foundation has awarded over $16 million in grants statewide. The OSBF also hosts an annual statewide awards program to recognize attorneys who give back to their communities through service, as well as a Fellows program, featuring a select group of attorneys who give their time, talent and treasure to advance the OSBF’s mission.
For more information about the Ohio State Bar Foundation, please visit www.OSBF.org.
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