Still Rising: A Free, Trauma-Informed Guide for Survivors Navigating Their Legal Options

For many survivors of sexual violence, one of the hardest parts of coming forward is simply not knowing where to begin. The legal system is complex, the language is unfamiliar, and clear, reliable information can be surprisingly hard to find. Too often, survivors are left to piece things together on their own.

Still Rising: Navigating Your Legal Options After Sexual Assault was created to change that. Written and published by Hammerco Lawyers LLP, it's a free, trauma-informed guide that sets out the legal options available to survivors in clear, accessible language - so that decisions can be made with understanding, and at each person's own pace.

We were proud to attend the book's recent launch in Vancouver, and we want to help get this resource into the hands of the people it was made for.

A resource built around the survivor's experience

What sets Still Rising apart is its starting point. Rather than telling survivors what to do, it gives them the information they need to decide what is right for them. It's honest about the realities of the legal system - including its challenges and limitations - instead of idealizing the process.

The guide explores:

The difference between criminal and civil legal options, and what to expect from each
The realities, challenges, and limitations of the legal system
Other avenues for accountability and support
Key issues such as non-disclosure agreements, defamation, and institutional responsibility

It's grounded in the British Columbia legal system, but many of the concepts apply more broadly across Canada.

Free, and made to be shared

Still Rising is available as a free PDF download or as a printed hard copy. It was designed to reach survivors wherever they first encounter the legal process - whether they're exploring their own options or supporting someone else. It's a resource for survivors, but also for the family members, friends, partners, frontline workers, counsellors, social workers, and healthcare professionals who walk alongside them.

Created with care and lived experience

The guide was developed by Hammerco Lawyers LLP, led by Managing Partner Morgyn Chandler, who has dedicated her practice to advocating for survivors of sexual violence, alongside communications strategist Kate Chandler. It also draws on the perspectives of frontline experts - including the chapter that inspired the book's title, "Still rising - cultural safety through Indigenous eyes and experience," by Lisa Scott, Executive Director of the Cowichan Women Against Violence Society, and a foreword by Dalya Israel, Executive Director of the Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre.

Why this matters to us

At MindSense, our work is grounded in the same trauma-informed principles that shape Still Rising. We see every day how much a survivor's experience of the legal process depends on whether they are met with clarity, dignity, and care - or left to navigate it alone. Resources like this one make that path more transparent, and more human.

"Still Rising is an exemplary resource for trauma survivors and their families. It is written with the survivor's experience in mind, highlighting the importance of trauma-informed practices in the legal system and explaining what to expect from the judicial process in an easy-to-read format. I would highly recommend it as an educational resource, especially for anyone who has questions about what to expect from this process."

- Dr. Nuñez, Chief Psychiatrist, MindSense

Access the free guide

You can read more, download Still Rising for free, or request a printed copy on Hammerco's website:

Learn more and download the guide: hammerco.ca/still-rising
Download the PDF directly: Still Rising (PDF)

If you support survivors in any capacity, we'd encourage you to share it with anyone who might benefit.