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Has anyone here tried pregmune?
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Be a defense attorney for a little while. It’ll make you completely cynical
‘Tis true
I’ve been in PI for over a decade and know where you’re coming from. I’ve watched videos of people being bit and killed by speeding cars, videos of people with half severed limbs. and even worse. I have seen photos of the stuff horror movies are made from. One, remember that you’re there to do these people justice. Two, when it gets to be too much—get therapy. Vicarious trauma is real. Take care of yourself above all others.
I’ve been in PI for over a decade now and the best advice on dealing with cases like this is to try to disassociate as best as you can. I started dealing with wrongful death trials when I was 21 (autopsy photos, etc.) and that was the best advice my trial attorney could give me. Disassociate and try to use your emotions to feed your drive to get that person’s family any justice you can. Talking to a therapist may be a good way to 1) discuss and process your feelings; and 2) come up with methods to try and use those emotions in a healthier way.
Although I am speaking very generally here, I always look at injury cases as “easier” to handle when compared to other litigated practice areas. I’m not sending anyone to jail, I’m not defending someone that could be sent to jail if I mess up, and I’m not in matrimonial court arguing over who gets the lamp while their kids are hysterical crying. Instead, I am dealing with insurance company money, no one is losing their house, and you are doing good work in helping the client get compensated. This is how I rationalize it, anyway.
Pro
Don’t disassociate. The ability to feel is what separates you from the defense hacks who have zero empathy for what your clients are going through. It’s f*cked what happens to your clients. But understand that shit happens and you’re just there to make the best of it. Chanel that into being the best advocate for them. I tell my intake to warn me if there’s going to be gruesome photos so I’m not taken by surprise. Kinda need to be in the right frame of mind to see those.
Pro
I've been doing this about 10 years and have never had an issue except on a really bad institutional rape case. I talked to someone and felt better about it. I had to watch a terrible video repeatedly. Over and over. I am a pretty cool, calm, and collected person. It's real. You are not alone. Go talk to somebody if you feel you need it.
Do the therapy! It helps in all aspects of life. 🙃
I think OP is talking about the secondhand trauma caused by being exposed to, for example, some
pretty gruesome images or something like that.
I’ve defended against cases like that, and I have had flashbacks of those images when trying to sleep or something.
Vicarious trauma is a real issue. I’d definitely suggest trauma-informed therapy—and lots of breaks when reviewing traumatic evidence. If certain tasks are too triggering, perhaps another lawyer or paralegal can do them if they are okay with them.
Generally-speaking, cultivating a trauma-informed culture in the office, where it’s okay to limit or say no to certain tasks, may also be helpful.
Remind yourself you are there to try to make your client’s life better by getting them money and a chance to fight back. Also, there is nothing you can do to change what they have been through - only to help their future.