Growth through Grief: Processing Loss in Clinic

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Session Type: Concurrent Sessions

Session Capacity: N/A

Hotel: N/A

Room: Yosemite A

Floor: Ballroom Level

Loss is an inevitable part of legal advocacy, and it comes in many forms. Yet the culture of law schools and the legal profession tends to downplay the emotional and psychological impact of loss. Lawyers and law students coping with loss frequently turn to self-destructive coping mechanisms, shut themselves off from the intense emotions surrounding loss, or become excessively self-critical and internalize blame for the loss. Building strategies to address grief can help promote a sustainable practice in the face of inevitable challenges, set-backs, and losses. The session begins from the premise that thoughtfully and reflectively addressing loss is critically important in the clinical context. We will consider how our approach to handling loss with our clinic students may shape our students’ approach to discussing and processing loss with their clients (current or future). Drawing on their own experiences, presenters will discuss a wide range of strategies and tools for working with students to process the emotions surrounding loss. These include: developing personal rituals for memorializing loss, expressing emotion through creative projects, and undertaking complementary advocacy work aimed at systemic change. Participants will receive a bibliography of articles and resources on the topic of loss in professional settings.