Introduction to Feminist Lawyering

We have explored the following topics:

• Gender identity, gender expression sex and sexuality - what do these terms mean, and why is it relevant?

• Meaning of gender-based violence.

• The root causes of gender-based violence.

• The impact of gender stereotypes, biases and roles on gender-based violence.

In this video we will explore the following:

1. The meaning and definition of intersectionality;

2. The inter-relationship between intersectionality and legal frameworks;

3. The meaning of feminist-lawyering and the core-principles of feminist lawyering.

In this video we begin by exploring the different tools and methodologies of feminist lawyering. In particular, we explore:

1. Building a rapport and relationship with our client.

2. How to interview our client from a trauma-informed and survivor-centric lens;

3. How to draft witness statements without appropriating what has been shared by the client;

4. Adopting a legal strategy that is most suitable to the interests of our client.

In this video, we have explored the last element of feminist lawyering, that is - feminist judgements. Through this video, the participants will be able to:

1. Understand what makes a judgment feminist;

2. Identify the differences between a judgment that is feminist and that which is not;

3. Re-write existing judgments from a feminist, trauma informed perspective.

In this video, we will address the following topics:

1. Meaning of trauma and its relationship with gender-based violence;

2. The different categories of trauma;

3. Ways by which we can addressing trauma in our clients.

In this video, we will discuss the following:

1. The importance of undertaking a trauma-informed approach to our work with survivors of gender based violence.

2. Tools tools to adopt a trauma-informed approach in our work.

In this video, we will explore the following:

1. Importance of building a rapport and trust-based relationship with the client;

2. Different strategies by which such rapport can be built with the client;

3. Practices which can hinder the process of building a trusting relationship with the client.

This activity will help you understand different situations where retraumatisation can occur, why it is considered retraumatisation and how it can be countered.

In this video we will explore:

1. The mental health consequences of working with survivors of gender-based violence on service providers;

2. The meaning of vicarious trauma.

In this video, we will explore

1. The different factors that can influence and exacerbate the consequences of vicarious trauma. These include individual, organisational, and systemic factors as well;

2. The importance of addressing vicarious trauma.

In this video, we will explore

1. The different barriers that may come in the way of addressing vicarious trauma.

2. The methods that we can use in order to overcome and address these barriers.

This activity will help you understand an important component of feminist lawyering which is recognizing and managing one’s own trauma that is associated with the trauma of the client. Creating a self-care plan can be an integral part of minimizing the effects of vicarious trauma.

In this module, we are going to explore the following topics:

1. Understand the concept of movement lawyering;

2. Understand the features of movement lawyering and the role of a movement lawyer;

3. Exploration of the relationship between gender-based violence and movement lawyering;

4. An exploration of the ways to adopt a ‘movement’ mindset.

The root causes of gender-based violence percolate deeply in the form of structural inequalities or discrimination. Hence, the survivors' requirements cannot be unidimensional or cater to a fixed set of rules. This is where the practice of movement lawyering comes in.

In this video, we have discussed: 

1. How the practice of movement lawyering helps in dismantling rigid power structures; 

2. How the redistribution of power in movement lawyering helps in adopting a trauma-informed approach;

3. The practical meaning of adopting a 'movement' mindset.