By: Caidi Vanderporten
On July 29, WBAI’s Domestic Relations Committee was pleased to present a CLE program as part 1 of a 3-Part Series on Gender Violence. This first part, entitled “Empowered Advocacy: Legal Partnership, Holistic Healing, and the Attorney’s Role in Survivor-Centered Justice,” brought together legal strategy, nonprofit collaboration, and attorney well-being—all in service of strengthening advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Attendees heard from attorneys Caidi Vanderporten, Molly Caesar, and Stacy Freeman about the tool box of resources practitioners have as well as the privilege and challenge of advocating for traumatized clients.
The session also offered practical tools to help attorneys advocate effectively, build collaborative relationships with nonprofit partners, and maintain their own mental health as they do this critical work.
Jane Doe, a survivor of domestic violence, spoke about her own trauma and shared the story of her abuse. Led by Rachael Kelly of non-profit organization, HiveStrong, Jane Doe discussed the need to prioritize compassion when handling clients who have survived violence and are seeking help and empowerment. HiveStrong offered Illinois-specific resources to support work in survivor advocacy and ways for practitioners and the judiciary to mitigate vicarious trauma.
The session ended with a meditation and south bath with Bridgette Corridan, who helped attendees experience deep relaxation and stress relief as an opportunity to reduce tension and promote mental clarity, supporting overall wellbeing in demanding legal roles.
This program is just one example of the thoughtful, mission-driven work of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and as an organization we look forward to offering more opportunities to create lasting change and expand our knowledge in vital work.
This article was originally published in the WBAI Fall 2025 Newsletter on page 88.