So Vermont Law School really reinforced what I consider empathetic advocacy or advocacy, where active listening is a cornerstone. So for me, in my day to day work, our clients are actively experiencing trauma. So maybe they've just had their children removed the night before, maybe they just showed up to court, they were just released from incarceration, maybe they're about to have their children removed. So they're actively experiencing trauma. So when I go to meet a new client, and they've just read the collector abuse allegation against them. A petition with all these allegations against them, with really inflammatory language, the emotions are heightened. I, it's so hard because I have to get so many questions to get a sense of who this person is, if I'm going to be representing them. But at the same time, I really try to just take a seat back and really listen to what is. What their responses to this petition? What's the language that they're using? I grew up with so many privileges, and I still exist in a world with so many privileges. And our clients are existing within the system that is truly embodied institutional racism. So a lot of what I have to do when I meet a client for the first time is just to listen to what they have to say, not to kind of, you know, ask about facts that I think are legally important or could be helpful for making an argument. Though, certainly down the line that is important. In the beginning, I just tried to listen, that's a lot of what I do. So empathetic advocacy is really I think all about this listening to our clients.
