Upcoming Events
The following events may be of interest to panel attorneys and generally provide MCLE credit.
Opportunities for Appellate Practitioners
Dependency Staff Attorney Position Open at ADI
Appellate Defenders, Inc. (ADI) is hiring a full-time dependency staff attorney. Join us in the rewarding work of representing indigent parties in the California Court of Appeal and supporting dedicated attorneys who are appointed by the appellate courts.
ADI is a non-profit law office that also acts as an administrator under the Rules of Court, rule 8.300(e) for the Fourth Appellate District Court of Appeal.
We offer a collegial, collaborative, and committed environment with attorneys who are dedicated to improving the quality of indigent appellate representation in California. We encourage and support our staff attorneys with a hybrid work environment, allowing for work on and offsite, with flexibility at heart.
For more information, see the job posting.
Please submit applications to Lynelle Hee at lkh@adi-sandiego.com no later than Friday, March 21, 2025.
CAPLA Executive Director Position Open
The Executive Director’s main responsibility is to provide leadership and direction for the attorneys and support staff employed by CAP/LA, particularly in the requisite high quality of legal practice, in the tone and manner of dealing with panel attorneys, and in the way that all office personnel work together. This leadership must also be directed to the attorneys in private practice who take appointments from the California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District. The ED must be able to function comfortably and effectively working with supreme and intermediate appellate court justices, with the clerks of the court, with Judicial Counsel personnel, and with colleagues on state-wide Judicial Council committees and task forces. The Assistant Director (AD) should be a resource and partner in handling these many responsibilities.
For more information, see the job posting.
The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025.
California Academy of Appellate Lawyers Fellowship Program
The California Academy of Appellate Lawyers is proud to open the application period for its Fellowship Program. The Fellowship year will run from May 2025 to May 2026.
The 2025-2026 Fellowship application period runs from February 3, 2025 to March 17, 2025.
2025 Annual Defender Dinner
Friday, April 25th | 5:00 p.m. No Host Cocktails | 6:00 p.m. Dinner
Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
910 Broadway Circle, 4th floor Ballroom
Featuring Keynote Speaker Danalynn Recer
Awards Presentation includes:
- Conant-Cleary Award presented to Shervin Samimi
- Paul Bell Award presented to Richard Levy
Please join us for our annual dinner to unite the entire San Diego criminal defense community.
RSVP by April 11, 2025: RSVP
Upcoming Trainings by the Appellate Projects
Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions
March 13, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. | Remote
Hosted by: FDAP
Please join us for an online training on how appellate counsel can identify and address the immigration consequences triggered by a client’s criminal conviction. We are pleased to have Alameda County Deputy Public Defender and Supervising Immigration Defense Attorney Raha Jorjani join us for a presentation on immigration consequences and the tools available to post-conviction counsel when the client did not receive proper advisements from the court or counsel. Raha will also provide us with key updates regarding applicable immigration law changes put in place by the new federal administration.
1.25 hours of general MCLE credit and appellate and criminal specialization will be offered.
CDCR Insights: Classification, Programming, Re-sentencing – A Correctional Counselor’s Perspective
April 9, 2025 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Remote
Hosted by: ADI
CDCR Counselor Clarence Hogan will provide information on the programming/jobs available at a prison, the new California Model, how an incarcerated person is classified and assigned to a prison, the process for determining which incarcerated person merits resentencing letters, and prison mail regulations, tablet usage, and visiting.
1.0 hours of general MCLE credit and appellate and criminal specialization will be offered.
MCLE Programs Offered by Other Defense Organizations
The New Age of Sentencing Part 1: Aggravating Factors
March 18th from 3:00- 4:00 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
Learn the most recent statutory and caselaw updates in the ever-changing landscape of felony sentencing. From dealing with aggravating circumstances to preserving the best record for appeal, this lecture will provide you with the necessary tools to best represent your clients at felony sentencing. This is Part 1 of a two-part webinar series on recent changes in felony sentencing.
1.0 hour of MCLE credit is offered for this training.
What Defenders Wish They Knew About Family Court: Representing Clients with Concurrent Family Court Cases
March 20th from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m. | Remote
Presented by OSPD
Defenders often have clients who are dealing with their domestic violence or child abuse case in both criminal and family court. Come learn simple practical tools to help your clients maintain access to their children and have success in their criminal case, including how to handle the restraining orders issued at arraignment. The presenter will introduce a guide specifically created for public defenders and their clients who are navigating the family courts pro per.
1.0 hour of MCLE credit in Competence is offered for this training.
On-Demand Courses
New Racial Justice Act Online On-Demand Course
OSPD is excited to open a new on-demand course on the Racial Justice Act. You will learn all the basics,
refresh your knowledge, and stay up to date on RJA developments! These videos and written materials have
been collected from around the state and are meant to help practitioners regardless of their experience in
litigating the RJA.
Participants are able to receive MCLE Self Study and Specialty Credit for their hours working on the course (up to 10-hours).
SVP Course
This course is intended for anyone in Indigent defense looking to learn more about Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) petitions and defending against these civil commitments. Those taking this course from start to finish can expect to spend approximately 9 hours to complete. However, registrants should also feel free to take this course at their own pace. Completion of this course earns 8.25 hours of general MCLE credits.