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THREAD. With yesterday’s excitement about the formation of a Trauma-Informed Lawyers’ Group here in Scotland @TraumaAwareLaw, we thought we would do a little retrospective of things that have been happening in the last 18 months on that legal front. Thank you, law leaders.
2. In 2018, lawyer @KeeganSmith_Law teamed up w/ psych @suzannezeedyk to write this article on ACES for Law Society of Scotland Journal. “Stress changes human biology.” @Lawscot https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-63-issue-06/when-four-aces-is-a-bad-hand/
3. In 2019, family lawyer @Nadinemartin81 gave this 10-min interview to @garywrobinson for @ACEAwareNation about why she was motivated to bring ACE awareness to family law. “I grew up in one of the most deprived areas of Scotland.”
4. In 2017, two lawyers Melissa Rutherford @princess_missy_ & Paul Sheridan formed a law practice @RSLtdLaw that specialises in many areas associated w/ trauma: children’s hearings, adoption, immigration. https://www.rutherfordsheridan.co.uk/
5. In 2018, @RSLtdLaw sponsored 2 pupils to attend the @ACEAwareNation Conf w/ @DrBurkeHarris We’ve just looked it up & they sent an email at the time that said: “We would be delighted to sponsor. Would they want to come in for work experience? We’d love that too!”
6. In 2018, lawyer Tony Bone @tonybonelegal also sponsored 2 young ppl in Scotland to attend the @ACEAwareNation Conf. We just looked up his email. It says: “I’m delighted to make a small contribution to an amazing event. Come on Scotland!!”
7. Tony Bone of @tonybonelegal moved frm policing into law to help people who are vulnerable. He has known about the science of aces for some time, including being present when work w/ gang leaders has been done to reduce violence in Glasgow.
8. In Oct 2018, lawyer @Nadinemartin81 wrote this piece for her firm @HarperMacleod about ACES. “ACEs are especially relevant in the context of justice...with a view to minimising trauma for the benefit of future life.” https://www.harpermacleod.co.uk/hm-insights/2018/november/creating-a-world-where-professionals-dealing-with-children-are-ace-aware/
9. In Oct 2020, firm @HarperMacleod added this page to their website. “The most important aspect of tackling childhood adversity is acknowledging it.” https://www.harpermacleod.co.uk/our-services/individuals-and-families/family-law/adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-in-scotland/
10. In 2018, lawyer @KeeganSmith_Law gave ths powerful, reflective intervw to @garywrobinson abt his own motivation for understandng ACES. Amidst many folk, he names @HendryTina , who is so missed in our Scots ACES community. “I was basking in ignorance.”
11. In Autumn 2020, lawyer @KeeganSmith_Law gave ths intervw to @connectedbaby , alongside his good colleague @KevinNeary12 who founded @AidnAbet_Scot to help those leaving prison. They both said that understandng trauma makes criminal justice more just.
12. In Spring 2019, two key US judges were invited to visit Scotland. (Yes @KeeganSmith_Law had a big hand in organising that tour.) @JudgeWren & @JudgeVPratt talk about KINDNESS in the courts. Yes, kindness. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-47528102
13. In Nov 2020, lawyer @KeeganSmith_Law was awarded the title “Lawyer of the Year” at the Scottish Legal Awards @LegalAwards . Yep, a lawyer who talks kindness got that award. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/top-award-for-criminal-defence-expert-iain-smith-qcczdfdk5
14. For anyone who missed it, here is the announcement yesterday that sparked off this thread. The 4 lawyers we have been speaking of here are leaders. They have brought together their knowledge of trauma, as a group, to help others learn these insights. https://twitter.com/traumaawarelaw/status/1334887197892349953
15/end. We know lots of people are interested in how Scotland has been growing our national conversation about trauma & ACES. We wanted to take this opportunity to collate some of the history of how this is happening. Thank you again to @TraumaAwareLaw for this new step.
