Narrative theory is a staple of a good lawyer’s toolbox. But a conventional account of narrative theory relies on “stock stories,” or stories prevalent and deeply embedded in the dominant culture, to win over a decisionmaker. This can prove problematic because stock stories often legitimize existing social arrangements, and fail to unsettle the broader norms, attitudes, historical myths, and institutional dynamics that have allowed oppression to persist.
In this session, we will explore whether and how narrative theory can be repurposed as a resistance strategy to contest structures of subordination. We will discuss the tensions associated with trying to utilize narrative theory in clinical teaching and practice, including grappling with the limits of conventional understandings of narrative theory, and consider possible alternative frames for empowerment through storytelling. Additionally, we will examine how viewing narrative theory through the lens of resistance might impact the trajectory of a story, argument, or case. By adopting such a lens, we hope to embody an anti-racist ethic in the engagement with narrative theory, with the goal of centering clients and the communities they are a part of as key protagonists in the struggle for justice.