Social Worker Meetup: Team Representation

Mitigation specialists, dispositional advisors, sentencing advocates, social workers, and others in similar roles are part of the defense team. However, it is not always clear in all offices or on all teams what role we can or should play on the team. The value and range of skills we can add to the team’s representation is sometimes hidden within our teams and offices; how can we shine a light on our talents and establish our expertise as a valuable member of the team? How can we enhance collaboration across the team in the process? This meetup will discuss these topics and source some ideas from the group to discuss how we are connecting, collaborating, and shining our lights on our skills!

Stephanne Cline Thornton is a West Virginia native who has worked in and around criminal defense and mitigation for more than 20 years in Georgia, Colorado, and West Virginia. She is currently the Clinical Director for the West Virginia Judicial and Lawyer Assistance Program, and owner of Transform Legal, a consultancy focused on mitigation, training, and sustainability. As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and Master Addiction Counselor, Stephanne focuses on proper assessment for and access to trauma and substance use disorder treatment to ensure the health and well-being of affected individuals. Stephanne is on the Trauma-Informed Care Network Speakers Bureau and uses that platform to call attention to the intersection of secondary traumatic stress and legal practice. She approaches her work with clients, lawyers, social workers, and mitigation specialists through a contextualized mitigation lens.