What’s New With PDAP #2

While PDAP provides lots of different resources to its community, a significant part of our programming consists of training sessions, conferences, and series that bring together Public Defenders across Pennsylvania. Many of these sessions also offer CLE (Continuing Legal Education) credits to help attorneys fulfill their annual credit requirements. 

Although many of our trainings take place online, our in-person events are opportunities for Public Defenders across PA’s 67 counties to come together and share their experiences. They facilitate collaboration and encourage solidarity between members of our community.

Here is a look back at some of our 2024 in-person conferences:

SWIM Conference – August 14-16: This conference was the first of its kind geared toward our SWIM (Social Worker/social service advocate, Investigator, Mitigator) community. Over two days, attendants got to participate in plenaries, breakout sessions, and workshops led by PDAP’s expert faculty. Featured topics included the role that race plays in SWIM work, building relationships with clients and witnesses, creative mitigation, foundations of DNA evidence, the impacts of client-centered defense as told by former clients, and much more.

Appellate Academy – October 10-11: True to its name, the Appellate Academy conference focused on appellate issues, though it welcomed both appellate and trial attorneys from across the state. The “bring your own appeal” portion of the programming encouraged participants to introduce some of their own pending cases, addressing all types of appeals processes and best practices for preserving appeal records. The Appellate Academy takes place annually and focuses on different issues, with this year’s programming including sessions about probation reform, AI, and electronic discovery in appeals.

Emerging Leader Academy Voir Dire Conference – September 20-22: The 2024 Emerging Leader Academy is a yearlong, intensive program designed to empower new-to-practice Public Defenders to become leaders in indigent defense throughout Pennsylvania. The Voir Dire Training Conference engaged our current cohort of Emerging Leaders in workshops, plenary sessions, and interactive discussions designed to share knowledge related to courtroom interactions with juries and witnesses. A mock jury was present so participants could practice juror selection. 

Public Defenders interested in similar events can sign up for the PDAP listserv here and stay updated on any upcoming training sessions and conferences, which will also be posted on our events calendar. Public Defenders can also follow our latest updates on Instagram @papublicdefenders.