clients are fully informed of their legal rights, the consequences of their decisions, and available legal avenues. In cases involving the death penalty, lawyers must carefully balance this respect for client autonomy with their broader responsibility to challenge the use of capital punishment. Sensitivity to these issues is essential, particularly when addressing clients who may be vulnerable or experiencing pressure to accept legal outcomes that may not serve their best interests. Lawyers must be mindful of external factors, such as coercion, despair, or misinformation, that may influence their clients’ decisions. By fostering a relationship of trust and open dialogue, lawyers can effectively represent their clients, while upholding their ethical and professional obligations. Addressing Vulnerabilities 5. Lawyers should actively identify and document vulnerabilities of their clients to ensure they are effectively presented as mitigating factors during legal proceedings, thereby highlighting the broader systemic failures that contribute to criminal behaviour. Defence lawyers have a professional duty to identify client vulnerabilities, including histories of trauma, mental health conditions, severe poverty and systemic exploitation, such as coercion by drug trafficking syndicates. These considerations must align with international human rights standards, to present robust mitigation strategies. Highlighting such vulnerabilities is critical to humanising defendants and exposing systemic failures that contribute to criminal behaviour. Lawyers should also proactively develop mitigation strategies to ensure that all legal decisions are made with a comprehensive understanding of their potential consequences. While advocating for these factors, lawyers must ensure they do not retraumatise their clients in the process. Engaging in a trauma-informed approach, they should employ sensitive interview techniques, allow clients to share their experiences at their own pace, and provide a supportive environment that prioritises their well-being. Lawyers should coordinate with psychological and social support services to ensure that clients receive appropriate care and that their histories are presented in a way that strengthens their defence without causing further distress. Inclusion of Families 6. Lawyers must ensure their clients’ families are fully informed and empowered to participate meaningfully throughout the legal process, including supporting clemency petitions, attending key hearings, and contributing to mitigation efforts. Active collaboration with clients’ families is an indispensable element of holistic legal representation. Families often serve as invaluable advocates, providing emotional support to the defendant and offering personal narratives that humanise the case. Their involvement strengthens mitigation arguments and underscores the societal and familial impact of capital punishment. However, supporting families is a complex and often resource-intensive responsibility that extends beyond the immediate legal defence. Lawyers must ensure families are actively included in the legal process while recognising the need for collaboration with civil society organisations, advocacy groups, and other March 2025 5