Upcoming Events
The following events may be of interest to panel attorneys and generally provide MCLE credit.
MCLE Programs Offered by Appellate Projects
Balancing the Scales: Addressing Compassion Fatigue Through Prevention and Healing
September 25th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Remote
Presented by ADI
In this virtual program, ADI staff attorneys Christine Johnson and Laura Furness will discuss the definition of compassion fatigue and how it differs from “burnout.” As public interest attorneys, the work we do is heavy and it can impact our physical and mental health. This program will address various tools and techniques available to help recognize and heal from compassion fatigue.
1.0 hours of Wellness Competence MCLE credit will be offered.
FDAPs Annual Seminar
October 10th from 9:00-4:00 p.m. | In-Person
Location: Oakland Endowment Center
This year’s seminar will have criminal and dependency break out sessions, including:
- Recent Legal Developments in Criminal, Juvenile, and Civil Commitment Law;
- Looking Back and Moving Forward: Some Nagging Issues in Criminal Law that are Ripe for Revisiting;
- Who, What, Where, When, Why & How: Practical Approaches to Investigating and Presenting Successful Habeas Petitions;
- Using Checklists to Enhance Your Dependency Practice; and
- Redefining the Win in Dependency Appeals.
Joint sessions include:
- Appellate Claims Related to Expert Testimony;
- Ethics Roundup and Brush Up; and
- A conversation with Justice Monique Langhorne Wilson and Justice Charles A. Smiley, both of the First Appellate District, Division One.
Approximately 5.50 hours of MCLE credit, including appellate and criminal specialization, will be provided.
Training Opportunities Offered by Other Defense Organizations
CACJ 2025 Appellate Practice Seminar
Navigating Change: Emerging Law, Evolving Tools, and Effective Advocacy in Criminal Appeals
October 25th | Remote
Join CACJ for the 2025 Appellate Seminar—a dynamic program designed for defense attorneys navigating today’s rapidly evolving appellate terrain. This year’s lineup tackles critical changes in resentencing law, explores new strategies for 1172.6 and implied malice appeals, and addresses key procedural challenges like Batson/Wheeler under Penal Code 237.1.
From legislative updates to ethical AI integration in your legal practice, and from persuasive writing to post-conviction insights, this seminar blends the foundational with the forward-thinking. Whether you’re refining your arguments or responding to seismic legal shifts, you’ll gain the tools to advocate more powerfully and effectively.
CACJ looks forward to seeing you virtually in October for a series of sessions that promise to be both educational and inspiring.
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.