In From the Margins: Recognizing and Appreciating Clients Narratives within the Family Policing System

Stories matter – within every life, there is an existing narrative of resilience and survival. Acknowledging the life experiences of the clients as they navigate systems of oppression and racism is salient to zealous advocacy. The presentation will address the importance of listening to and appreciating the individual narratives of clients, particularly those critically impacted by the family policing system. Clients often feel they are secondarily victimized by being represented by someone who fails to recognize their humanity and usurps their voice. This lecture will examine the importance of the client’s narrative and how giving voice to the client’s experience can potentially positively impact their case.

Joyce Angela Hounkanrin, Esq. is the founding partner of Hounkanrin Legal Defense Group and works as private counsel for the Children and Family Law Division for the Committee for Public Counsel Services within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. As founder ofHounkanrin Legal Defense. Attorney Hounkanrin actively works to deconstruct systems that are seeded in racism and oppression and that have critically impacted the lives of black and brown individuals. This mission is accomplished by purposely serving all clients and recognizing that the liberation of all people is the ultimate call of justice.

Joyce Angela Hounkanrin graduated from Massachusetts School of Law, holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and is a PhD candidate at Capella University.