If working in Civil Law, and representing victims of crime, is something you do, or aspire to do, it is crucially important to recognize why this work is so important, yet also so specialized.This is delicate work, and understanding the psychology of trauma will determine how you interact with, and represent, your client.Renée Williams is the CEO of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization for victims of all types of crime, and for the people who serve them. Renée's organization ensures that their member attorneys focus not just on victims, but victims of crime. It's about the technical, legal version of what a crime is. And you have to be a plaintiff's attorney to do this work.Civil Law is the mechanism to hold the powerful to account, because you can't put a church in jail. What people really want is accountability.And yet, it is remarkable how hard the defense continues to fight, even after their client pled guilty. This work can often be a reflection on the values of our society, and what can be a long journey to simply hold someone accountable for their actions.From massage providers to sex assaults and bouncer cases, there sometimes seems to be an endless parade of cases, and law offices & toll-free numbers to cater to them. Renée's advice: "If you are a victim, you're listening to this and you're considering moving forward, be very picky about your lawyer. Make sure that if they have on their law firm site, "We do sex abuse cases," dig into that. Look and see what cases they've actually done." You have to be deeply, personally committed to this type of work. Be that lawyer who is passionate about helping victims, and advocating for change.In this episode, we discuss:◼️ How Civil Law can hold powerful entities accountable when the criminal justice system fails.◼️ The neurobiology of trauma: why trauma causes victims to have trouble remembering vivid experiences that happened to them. ◼️ How the trauma of reliving an event can sometimes sadly cause a case to fall apart.◼️ How to approach a case when the chances of compensation and recovery just aren't there. Your client doesn't want to relive their intense trauma all for just a piece of paper.◼️ Why victims need to understand the limitations of civil lawsuits.Chapters00:00 The Impact of Civil Justice on Victims' Rights11:54 The Role of Civil Law in Accountability and Change18:04 Organizational and Employer Responsibility24:16 The Explosion of Bouncer Cases29:09 Understanding Trauma in Crime Victim Representation35:52 The Challenges of Pursuing Civil Cases39:00 The Role of Victims in the Justice System45:17 Advice for New Lawyers: Integrity and ResponsibilityCourtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers.If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us.Thank you!Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

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