Change doesn’t happen in isolation.
Communities of practice can make a difference for trauma-aware legal professionals who want to do better.
“Unlike in other professional spaces, our community of practice is a place where I feel safe sharing my experiences, opinions, and ideas. It is a supportive and sacred space where members are bound by confidentiality and respect … This group has increased my confidence in the importance of trauma-informed legal practice, and helped me feel more capable of talking about the subject publicly, including at my alma mater law school, where I have proposed a new seminar course.”
— Anonymous, Member of the TIP Community of Practice
The findings of the comprehensive National Study on the Psychological Health Determinants of Legal Professionals in Canada are stunning:
Of 6600 legal professionals, 59.4% reported psychological distress.[1]
24.4% of over 5800 legal professionals reported suicidal ideation.[2]
55.9% of respondents reported burnout,[3] 56.2% reported compassion fatigue and 26.8% said they are struggling with vicarious trauma.
In tandem with these findings, more legal professionals are identifying the impacts of trauma on their own lives and work. They are also becoming aware of the impacts of trauma on their colleagues, staff, clients and everyone they come across in their work.
As a result, many feel called to action. They want to integrate trauma-informed approaches into their work. But translating theory to practice – or shall we say, praxis! – can be easier said than done.
So, what can we do about it?
At Just Praxis™, we believe Communities of Practice can make a difference.
Our aim is to cultivate safe(r) spaces that support legal professionals to embrace and integrate trauma-informed approaches into their daily work.
By doing so in the context of community, we believe it is possible to create meaningful and lasting change at the individual level and, over time, more broadly throughout the profession.
What we offer:
Customized Solutions: Tailored CoP programs designed specifically for legal teams, addressing challenges and opportunities that are unique to different practice areas.
Professional Guidance: Receive professional guidance on how to create safe(r) spaces for discussion while being mindful of professional responsibilities and ethical considerations.
Continuous Support: Access ongoing support and resources to sustain and evolve your CoP, fostering a culture of learning and collaboration within your organization.
Meet the Team
Monica and Susan are both professional facilitators and have rich work histories as lawyers and consultants in diverse contexts. They have a passion for supporting the legal community to become more trauma-aware and are on a mission to cultivate more spaces for critical conversations to unfold. Click + to read more.
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Monica Chohan is a lawyer, consultant and facilitator with deep interrelated expertise in governance, strategic planning and workplace challenges. More importantly, Monica is a child of immigrants, woman of colour, neurodiverse and unabashed feminist. She launched Chohan Law and Wilbrod House Consulting in 2017 to work in ways that are authentic to who she is, align with her values and allow her to leverage everything she has to offer. In all she does, she is guided by the needs and interests of people facing intersecting oppressions that limit their safety, well-being and opportunities in our society.
Today, Monica is lucky and grateful to work with people across Canada on projects with the potential for transformational impact. This includes the TIP Community of Practice ("TIP CoP"), which brings together professionals from the legal, HR, investigations, mediations and conflict resolution fields so they can learn with and from each other as they strive to embed trauma-informed principles and approaches into their everyday practices.
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Susan O’Neil is an immigrant from Australia and mother of two, with a professional background in law, sales and marketing and change management. She completed her undergraduate studies in chemistry and her law degree at Monash University in Melbourne, and then spent several years at a large law firm and as in-house counsel to General Motors in Australia before moving to Canada. She then shifted gears, completing her MBA at the University of Alberta followed by several years in sales and marketing at Ernst & Young in Edmonton. Susan then spent a decade as a project manager and facilitator on consulting and change management projects for Edmonton Public Schools and various public sector clients in Alberta. This work touched areas such as launching online portals, child protection and family enhancement, family and child disability supports, and environmental regulation.
For this next phase of her career, Susan has qualified through the NCA route for legal practice in Canada and currently undertakes legal research and informal advocacy, while continuing her longstanding commitment to volunteerism in the areas of public education advocacy, student well-being and law. She joined Monica Chohan in co-facilitating the TIP Community of Practice in January 2023.
Join the Movement:
Partner with us to evolve your own practice, and to connect and build stronger relationships with like-minded colleagues. Together, we can create a culture of continuous learning, resilience, and compassion.
Ready to embark on a rich journey towards a more compassionate and effective legal community?
Unlock Positive Change:
Improved Workplace Environment:
Research demonstrates a correlation between trauma-informed practices and a better workplace.
Enhanced Mental Health:
Foster resilience and reduce distress among legal professionals within your team.
Client Satisfaction:
Implement techniques to enhance client experiences and satisfaction while reducing the likelihood of causing harm or retraumatization.
“I'm learning. I don't have the same perspective as everyone else in the group, and I think that's a good thing. We have people from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, and that gives me a broader window on how to approach all kinds of sticky professional problems.”
— Anonymous, Member of the TIP Community of Practice
”This group has proven invaluable for exchanging ideas, receiving guidance and collaborating on ideas aimed at fostering trauma-informed environments, within each of our respective workplace environments.”
— Anonymous, Member of the TIP Community of Practice
