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WALC Alumni Reflection – Hannah Sydnor-Greenberg '19
I remember being a Women in the Law Clinic (WALC) student attorney, sitting in a Clinic interview room talking to a new client who was seeking an annulment following an abusive relationship. While recounting the abuse, she expressed shame and guilt, and she blamed herself for the aftermath of the relationship. I felt a deep emotional pang; despite our differences in age, race, and lived experiences, her feelings as a domestic violence survivor connected us. I remained calm for the rest of our meeting, but I cried during case rounds. I left case rounds embarrassed and worried that my own experiences would adversely affect my ability to represent my client.
A few days later, my clinic partner and I had a supervision meeting. Our professor brought up my emotional reaction, and to my surprise, her comments were not negative. I thought back to our seminar discussions on empathy, connection through sameness and differences, and empowering clients. I thought that perhaps I could use my experiences to generate insight that could help build a stronger, more empathetic relationship with my client. Our similar experiences and feelings could help me view her legal options from a place of empowerment and help my client to feel in control during a stressful legal situation. I decided to try.
Over the next few weeks, my partner and I combed through statutes and cases to identify case theories to present to our client. I examined our findings from my client’s point of view, using our similar experiences and emotions to weigh the emotional, psychological, and safety impacts of each option. It was a challenging process, but it pushed me to think more deeply and creatively about the law and helped me to consider my client’s need and goals within the full context of her own experiences.
My partner and I met with our client after our research was complete. During our meeting, we laid out her options. In addition to discussing legal pros and cons, we talked with her about the implications of each option. After further discussion, our client decided which option to pursue. My partner and I discussed it a bit more with her and planned next steps. Before saying goodbye, our client told us that she appreciated working with women who “really get what she is going through.”
My time in WALC taught me that being a lawyer is so much more than mastering the law and thinking critically. It requires forming multidimensional relationships with people who are likely experiencing the most difficult times in their lives. To build complete relationships that empower clients, we must allow ourselves to be vulnerable and empathetic, and to connect across both our similarities and differences.