NLADA: Training and Education - Defender Training Opportunities

Conference Overview

NLADA's Appellate Defender Training is an intensive, learning experience designed specifically for public defenders and private attorneys who represent indigent defendant in criminal appeals. The focus of the conference is on small-group workshops, in which participants work on their own real cases with experiences defense teachers and litigators.

Key Benefits

Learn new techniques and strategies from indigent defense specialists.
Receive supportive, constructive personalized feedback in small groups workshops.
Improve your written and oral advocacy skills.
Meet others who will become resources for you in the future.

By the time the conference is over, participants will have thoroughly analyzed the facts of their cases, developed a persuasive story line to support that theory, and begun to effectively prepare a written brief and oral argument on their case. This is the only appellate defender conference in the nation where participants work on their own real cases, not just hypothetical problems. NLADA's Appellate Defender Training consists of large group plenary sessions, in which the faculty and participants work together on a fact problem that will be used to determine the skills and techniques participants will apply to their real cases. The majority of the conference sessions consist of small group workshops, in which participants of all skill levels work on their individual cases.

Preparation for the Conference

All participants should bring 12 copies of a one page, typed factual summary of a case to work on in the small-group workshops. The case should be a direct appeal of a criminal conviction in which they are representing an indigent defendant. Participants should have already read the trial transcript and record of the case. The case may be a felony or misdemeanor. It must not, however, be a case in which the participant had already written the brief.

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