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53 Tex. Tech L. Rev. 511 (2020-2021)
Vicarious Trauma: A Growing Problem among Legal Professionals That May Become a More Prevalent Cause of Action

handle is hein.journals/text53 and id is 541 raw text is: VICARIOUS TRAUMA: A GROWING PROBLEM AMONG LEGAL PROFESSIONALS THAT MAY BECOME A MORE PREVALENT CAUSE OF ACTION Samuel D. Hodge, Jr. * and Lauren Williams** There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds. - Laurell K. Hamilton, Mistral's Kiss I. VICARIOUS TRAUMA ....................................................................... 512 II. TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING AND CARE..................................... 514 III. HOW TRAUMA AND STRESS AFFECTS THE BRAIN .......................... 516 A. The Anatomy of the Brain ......................................................... 516 B. The Hippocampus ..................................................................... 518 C. Fight-or-Flight Response .......................................................... 519 D. Chemical Changes in the Brain ................................................ 520 IV. VICARIOUS TRAUMA AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION ....................... 521 A . L a w y e rs .....................................................................................5 2 1 B. Judges ....................................................................................... 523 C. Juries ........................................................................................ 526 D. Courtroom Personnel ............................................................... 528 V. TRAUMA-INFORMED TRAINING....................................................... 528 VI. COURT CASES.................................................................................. 530 VII. CONCLUSION ................................................................................... 532 Isaac James' is an associate in a prominent law firm that handles catastrophic injuries. He can appreciate the clients' pain because his parents were killed in a plane crash when he was a child. His job is very demanding, and counsel works long hours. Recently, he participated in a case in which a family of four was killed when their car exploded in a ball of fire after being hit by an out-of-control tractor-trailer. He did a great job developing the testimony and creating the exhibits shown to the jury. * Samuel D. Hodge, Jr. is a legal studies professor at Temple University where he teaches law, anatomy, and forensics. He is also a member of the Dispute Resolution Institute where he serves as a mediator and neutral arbitrator. He has authored more than 185 articles in medical or legal journals and has written ten books. He also enjoys an AV preeminent rating and has been named a top lawyer in Pennsylvania on multiple occasions. ** Lauren Williams is a third-year student at the Temple University Beasley School of Law. 1. This is a fictitious character and the story is not real. 511