Law, Loss, and Listening: Communicating Effectively with Grieving Clients

Law, Loss, and Listening

presented by: Rachel Schromen

Rachel Schromen is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Schromen Law, LLC, a Minnesota-based estate planning and elder law firm recognized for its holistic, grief-informed, and trauma-aware approach to client service. 

Learning objectives:

1. Recognize the Impact of Grief on Client Communication and Decision-Making

Participants will learn how grief and loss can affect a client’s cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses during the legal process, and how to identify signs of grief that may influence client interactions.

2. Apply Grief-Informed Communication Techniques in Client Support

Participants will develop practical strategies for communicating with empathy and maintaining professional boundaries when assisting clients who are experiencing grief or loss, particularly in estate planning, probate, and elder law contexts.

3. Integrate Trauma- and Grief-Aware Practices into Legal Workflows

Participants will explore ways to create a more compassionate and effective client experience by adapting intake procedures, documentation, and follow-up practices to account for clients’ emotional states.