National Appellate Defender Training

Registration Opening Soon!

NLADA and the Mississippi Office of State Public Defender bring you the 2026 Appellate Defender Training in Jackson, MS. This renowned bring-your-own-case program will offer a mixture of plenary sessions and small group workshops to help attorneys develop their appellate skills.

The Appellate Defender Training (ADT) offers an intensive four-day learning experience. ADT is designed specifically for attorneys who represent indigent defendants in criminal and delinquency appeals in the state and federal court systems. This national skills training brings together court and appellate public defenders at the state and federal levels, assigned counsel, and  contract defenders for a multi-day program. Topics covered include: Client-Centered Representation, Brainstorming your Case, Developing a Theory and Theme, Storytelling, Litigating Racial Injustice, Persuasive Brief Writing, Creating an Editing and Review Process, and Oral Advocacy.