Additional PDAP Services

Additional PDAP Services

PDAP offers several services to support Public Defenders in their work. These include:

  • Access to CLEAR investigative software for Public Defenders to use on their cases. CLEAR can run background searches on case witnesses and provide information about property, vehicles, social media, criminal records and phone numbers. To learn more about CLEAR and the search request process, please reach out to Julie Hyman at Julie@PAPublicDefenders.com. If you have access to our password protected materials, check out our information session about CLEAR here.
  • Cellebrite is a software that allows extraction and analysis from mobile devices. The Monroe County Public Defender’s Office has a subscription to Cellebrite, and will run cell phones for Public Defenders throughout the state. Please reach out to Julie Hyman at Julie@PAPublicDefenders.com for more information.
  • PDAP will virtually moot any social service staff person, investigator or mitigator who needs to testify or has a hearing and would like to practice. Bring the attorney who will be doing your direct examination and we will recruit an attorney to practice your cross examination. In addition to the practice, you will receive feedback. If interested, please e-mail a brief about the case, any relevant discovery and your CV to Julie@PAPublicDefenders.com.
  • PDAP offers external training scholarships to Public Defenders for non-PDAP trainings. Current offerings will be announced on the SWIM listserv.
  • SWIM meetups are virtual spaces for Public Defender SWIM staff to connect with one another and have community-wide discussions. Past topics have included effective interviewing, discussing challenges and celebrating victories, Cellebrite, our own wellness, and working in interdisciplinary teams.
  • PDAP also offers specific services for appellate attorneys. For more information about any of these resources, email emilymerski@gmail.com.
    • Appellate mooting – Prepare for your next oral argument with a panel of experienced appellate attorneys who are ready to moot your case with you.  We will set up a date and time for you to meet over Zoom with a panel of other PDAP attorneys who will review with you your argument, discuss strengths and weaknesses of your case, help you to tailor your issues to raise and answer any general questions you might have.  This service is not just for beginners; practice makes perfect for even the most experienced attorney looking to fine tune their argument and perfect their presentation. 
    • Appellate roundtable – Bouncing off ideas for how to approach your next appellate argument can be so beneficial. But what if you are the only appellate attorney in your office? Schedule an appellate roundtable and a panel of other PDAP attorneys will meet with you over Zoom to issue spot, craft an argument, go over case law, or answer any questions you might have about your approach to an appeal.
    • Appellate meetups – Are you looking to enrich your appellate knowledge but don’t have time for a CLE? Join us for appellate meetups to learn more about issues that specifically affect the appeals community.  Past topics have included case law updates, briefings on specific areas of law that have a significant impact on appeals, 8th Ed. Sentence Guidelines, changes to probation/parole rules, how to craft the perfect PCRA, etc.  
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