By: One World Publishing
As the “Breaking the Silence” report exposes a lack of protection for victims in the family court system, Rebecca Zung, aka The Leverage Lawyer, steps forward with tools for victim self-advocacy.
The legal system was designed to protect the vulnerable. But for many survivors of narcissistic abuse, it has become a battlefield where charm is rewarded, facts are ignored, and coercive control goes unchecked.
A recently released report by Project Justice USA called “Breaking the Silence” reveals what happens when victims are exploited, and the family court system fails to protect them. And in the wake of that report, renowned conflict-negotiation strategist Rebecca Zung, Esq., is stepping forward as a source of empowerment for these victims.
More than just helping these victims, she’s helping them help themselves in the courtroom and beyond through her educational programming for negotiating with narcissists and other high-conflict personalities.
“Breaking the Silence” Report: A Family Court Crisis Exposed
The “Breaking the Silence” report draws on responses from more than 2,000 individuals who participated in the U.S. family court system between 2006 and 2025. Nearly 94% of respondents identified as mothers, and 92% reported being survivors of domestic violence or coercive control.
Key findings reveal pervasive concerns over the effectiveness of the family court system in addressing the intersection of child safety and domestic violence. For example, 78% of respondents rated the system as “Not Effective” when it came to addressing domestic violence and child safety issues. Among children involved, 96% were reported to have experienced negative consequences from the court proceedings, with 92% suffering emotional or psychological distress and 40% experiencing self-harm or suicidal thoughts.
The data also highlights that 79% of respondents felt evidence was excluded or dismissed, and 72% said abuse allegations were not sufficiently investigated.
Rebecca Zung’s Mission to Empower Victims
The report results were no surprise to Zung, a top 1% attorney who spent more than 25 years working on cases involving narcissists and other high-conflict personalities. During this time, she saw a court system that too often rewards the abuser, not the abused.
Zung has made it her mission to empower victims through her courses, which include SLAY® Your Negotiation with a Narcissist, Breaking Free from Divorce, and Justice Blueprint. These courses combine educational modules with mentoring and AI technology to help people be powerful self-advocates in court.
Strategies for Success in Family Court
The high-conflict personalities behind so many family court cases know how to turn on the charm when it matters, often winning over judges who fall for their performance. These manipulators come across with confidence and boldness. They unleash lies with convincing certainty, portraying themselves as the victim.
Unless a judge happens to have insights into narcissistic behaviors, they’ll consider the “facts” that have been presented as truth. And too often, they’ll rule in favor of the narcissist, perpetuating the exploitation of the true victim.
Zung provides strategies how to beat a narcissist in family court, focusing on empowering them with the tools necessary to navigate complex legal challenges effectively.
Thinking Like a Narcissist
Narcissists don’t use logic, and they don’t play by the rules. They lie, manipulate, gaslight, and blame-shift. Court cases involving narcissists often take three times longer and cost four times as much. That’s because narcissists don’t want resolution. They want control. They have no trouble stretching out a legal case if it feeds their emotional supply.
Zung offers strategies that help victims understand narcissistic behaviors, allowing them to navigate complex family court dynamics more effectively. The goal is to provide individuals with tools for self-advocacy and resilience.
Creating Leverage
Zung, who is known as the “Leverage Lawyer,” suggests that building leverage, which may include understanding a narcissist’s motivations and fears, can be an effective strategy in family court. This approach encourages victims to focus on strategic communication and evidence.” For example, if a narcissist fears losing their reputation, building leverage might mean gathering evidence that exposes their ongoing lies. Leverage is the pressure point that forces narcissists to become more cooperative suddenly.
Anticipating the Narcissist’s Moves
Though narcissists’ actions may seem chaotic, they’re actually built on patterns of smear campaigns, goalpost shifting, manufactured crises, and projecting their own weaknesses onto others. When people understand these patterns, they learn to pre-empt them so they’re never blindsided in court.
Negotiating with Neutrality
Narcissists specialize in forcing reactive, emotional responses from their victims. Getting the upper hand against a narcissist means staying emotionally neutral and using language that diffuses conflict, such as “I’m not available for that,” or “I will respond when communication is respectful.”
Case Building
Zung teaches people how to find a good attorney, map out their legal case, collect and organize the most relevant evidence, prepare opening statements, and practice for cross-examination. She helps people turn chaos into a clear roadmap for winning outcomes.
Empowering Lawyers
While people may think their fate is in their lawyer’s hands in family court, Zung advocates for individuals to actively participate in their legal proceedings, working closely with their attorneys to ensure the best possible representation. She teaches that a lawyer is a resource—not a savior. That’s because there are few lawyers who understand narcissism. And even if they do, they haven’t lived with the narcissist, so they don’t understand their history of abuse nor have access to the evidence that will help turn the tables against them.
Zung guides people to provide their lawyer with:
- Labeled exhibits
- Timelines
- Summaries
- Patterns of behavior
- Contradictions
- Email/text documentation that’s actually admissible
That way, their lawyer can walk into court ready to get their client exactly what they want.
Technology for the Win
Zung’s SLAY® AI tool is designed to help individuals understand narcissistic behaviors and organize key evidence, providing an additional resource for those preparing for family court proceedings. It functions like a 24/7 legal assistant, helping people:
- Analyze the narcissist’s behavior and patterns
- Collect and organize evidence on one platform
- Build leverage that will pressure the narcissist into responding to demands
- Anticipate the narcissist’s next move
- Communicate calmly with the narcissist
- Equip their lawyer with evidence summaries, deposition questions, and courtroom talking points
- Practice cross-examination scenarios
Restoring Justice to Family Court
Zung aims to provide support for survivors of narcissistic abuse, offering resources designed to help individuals feel more empowered and prepared when facing complex family court situations.
Her voice is crucial in light of a family court system that too often undervalues and undermines victims. Her relentless efforts are proving to victims that they don’t need a law degree to reclaim their power. They just need the right tools and the right strategy.
About Rebecca Zung
Rebecca Zung is a USA Today author and a National Association of Distinguished Counsel Top 1% attorney. She has garnered millions of views on her YouTube channel, where she shares insights on narcissistic abuse and family court. Her podcast, Negotiate Your Best Life, is widely listened to and provides valuable resources for victims of narcissistic control and manipulation. Learn more about her courses for winning in family court at www.rebeccazung.com.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is provided for general knowledge. It does not constitute legal advice, and readers should seek advice from qualified legal professionals regarding particular cases or situations.
