In 2012, I was a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit. Like the majority of people who seek help from a lawyer, I had not had any prior experience with the criminal or civil justice processes. After navigating both over eight years, I realized there was a huge gap in advocacy services. Advocates have been assisting victims/survivors in the criminal justice process for fifty years yet they have never existed within civil litigation firms.

I had one of the best law firms in the country but needed additional support. Survivors of trauma have a hierarchy of needs that must be met to feel safe and be effective. I can tell you from firsthand experience that the experience of civil litigation was entirely more difficult than the criminal justice process. It was also more rewarding.

I decided to become the first credentialed advocate to work full-time in a civil litigation firm. I am trailblazing a path for full-time advocate positions in every civil litigation firm. Until then, I will continue to train lawyers, legal staff, support staff, legal associations, and victim advocacy organizations on how to provide trauma-informed service and the need for survivor advocates to play a role in civil litigation.