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Login to watch this video if you have a subscription. Learn more about subscriptions.This presentation demonstrates how integrating trauma informed principles into legal practice transforms every stage of a case by applying insights from neuroscience about how traumatic events disrupt memory and trigger fight flight freeze responses, by adhering to ethical standards that require careful non coercive witness preparation, and by drawing on landmark rulings that affirm the need for flexible courtroom procedures and collaborative planning. Panelists share proven techniques for creating safer interview environments such as offering virtual or in person meeting options, tailoring question styles to sensory memory cues and arranging support breaks, and for structuring trials with accommodations such as privacy screens, agreed upon evidence protocols and case management plans at the pretrial stage that respect client dignity and preserve the integrity of testimony. Lawyers leave with clear actionable strategies to foster greater empathy in communication, reduce the risk of re-traumatization and maintain rigorous advocacy.
Teresa Donnelly has been a lawyer with the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General since 1994. As a Crown, Teresa has been dedicated to prosecutions involving violence against women and children – both domestic violence and sexual violence. As the West Region Sexual Violence Crown with the Ministry’s Sexual Violence Advisory Group, she is one of 7 full-time prosecutors in Ontario dedicated to enhancing the quality of sexual violence prosecutions and the victim’s experience in the criminal justice system. In addition, Teresa was elected as a Bencher with the Law Society of Ontario in 2015 and 2019. She was elected the Treasurer or President of the Law Society of Ontario from June 2020-June 2022. Teresa was the fifth woman Treasurer in the 223 year history of the Law Society of Ontario. As Treasurer her focus included the mental health of legal practitioners,
EDI, women in law, reconciliation, the competence and ethical responsibilities of lawyers and paralegals, and the important role that paralegals play in access to justice in Ontario. Teresa is the President of the Federation of Law Societies of Canada and a faculty member of the National Criminal Law Program where she has presented on various topics including dangerous offenders, sexual violence, human trafficking, and ethics. With Beth Beattie, LSM, she co-Chairs the Law Society of Ontario’s Mental Health Summit that reaches thousands of legal practitioners each year. She is also the President of the South West Region Women’s Law Association in Ontario. A member of the Advocates Society and the Huron Law Association In June 2024, Teresa received an honorary Doctor of Laws from the Law Society of Ontario
Justice Barbara A. MacFarlane graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in1998. She was called to the Bar in 1999. Prior to her appointment to the Bench, Justice MacFarlane’s practice focus was prosecuting medical negligence cases. Before moving her practice to London in 2018, she practiced at a downtown Toronto law firm, where she enjoyed a 30-year career (before and after law school). Through her legal career, Justice MacFarlane represented some of the most vulnerable litigants, suffering from tragic and life changing events. She has regularly been asked to speak or write for various law associations, including the Advocates’ Society, Ontario Trial Lawyers’ Association, Ontario Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Association for Justice, and the Law Society of Ontario
Anna Matas (pronounced May-tas) is a partner at St Lawrence Barristers, a boutique litigation firm in Toronto. An accomplished trial and appellate lawyer,
she represents clients at all levels of court, including in complex appeals before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. A significant part of Anna’s practice focuses on plaintiffs’ claims arising from sexual, physical, and psychological abuse. She also defends regulated health professionals in civil litigation as well as in administrative and regulatory matters. Anna is frequently retained to conduct sensitive, trauma informed investigations in cases involving harassment, discrimination, or abuse. Her approach is rooted in fairness, professionalism, and a deep understanding of how a legal processes can affect all parties involved in the proceedings. In 2024, Anna received the President’s Award from the Women’s Law Association of Ontario, recognizing her leadership, excellence, and contributions to the advancement of women in the legal profession.
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