Training Opportunities
The Office of the State Public Defender seeks to ensure that all indigent persons in Iowa are provided high quality legal representation in criminal, juvenile, and other eligible proceedings in the most efficient and fiscally responsible manner. To further this mission, the State Public Defender organizes various training opportunities for public defenders and other court-appointed attorneys.
Attorneys new to indigent defense are strongly encouraged, and in certain instances are required, to attend the one-day New Contract Attorney Trainings for criminal and juvenile law prior to or immediately after contracting with the State Public Defender. These trainings provide practical, specific advice to help you get started in representing clients in criminal or juvenile court and also introduce attorneys to the indigent defense claims process. Each one-day new contract attorney training is held twice each year shortly after the spring and fall bar admission ceremonies.
Upcoming SPD In-Person Training Opportunities
| Juvenile New Attorney Training | September 21, 2023 Wallace State Office Building |
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Criminal New Attorney Training |
September 22, 2023 Wallace State Office Building |
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Appellate Training PCR Training |
July 20, 2023 Cartwright Hall, Drake University July 21, 2023 Cartwright Hall, Drake University |
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Statewide Criminal Skills Training |
June 2, 2023 - Davenport Public Library (Eastern Avenue) June 15, 2023 - Waterloo Public Library July 7, 2023 - Morningside Library (Sioux City) July 14, 2023 - Iowa City Public Library July 27, 2023 - Ottumwa Public Library August 4, 2023 - Mason City Public Library August 17, 2023 - Council Bluffs Public Library September 8, 2023 - Newton Public Library |
| Criminal Trial Skills Training |
October 18, 19 and 20, 2023 |
Upcoming SPD Live Training Webinars
The State Public Defender will be hosting an ongoing series of Live Webinar CLEs over the lunch hour from Noon to 1:00 p.m. These CLEs, which are open only to indigent defense contract attorneys and public defenders can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection and will feature a variety of basic and advanced topics relevant to indigent defense practice. You must register in advance to attend by clicking the link below for each webinar. If you have suggestions for future topics or presenters, or are interested in presenting yourself, please contact the SPD Training Coordinator.
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May 16, 2023 (12-1:00) |
Authentic Engagement with Youth and Parents in Juvenile Court/ Cohen Juv. Practice Series Contact: bhanson@spd.state.ia.us |
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May 19, 2023 (12-1:00) |
Legal Writing/ SPD Criminal Contact: bhanson@spd.state.ia.us |
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June 15, 2023 (12-1:00) |
Cohen Juv. Practice Series/ TBA Contact: bhanson@spd.state.ia.us |
| June 16, 2023 (12-1:00) | SPD Criminal/ TBA |
Other Upcoming Opportunities
SPD On-Demand Webinars
The SPD now offers On-Demand webinars featuring our Live Webcasts. There is no charge to attend an on-demand webinar. Note that there may be short technical difficulties that were taped during the original broadcasts.
To receive CLE credit you must:
1. Register by entering your first name, last name and email address. DO NOT register by using social media or any other available Login.
2. Answer “yes” to the disclaimer advising that you must watch the entire webinar to receive CLE credit.
3. Complete the webinar until the page comes up telling you it is over then “leave webinar” or the webinar ends.
4. The CLE Activity Number appears in the description of each webinar.
5. You should receive a certificate of completion approximately 1 day after attending- a link will appear at the bottom of an email thanking you for attending.
Available Juvenile On-Demand Webinars
https://www.gotostage.com/channel/5466f47b41a74692b52cc6c717a1f6b5
Available Criminal On-Demand Webinars
https://www.gotostage.com/channel/294583dfff214b2eaf1c18404a50caab
****The Office of the State Public Defender extends its thanks to the Polk County Bar Association for permission to post the on-demand webinar entitled "Race and Jury Trials." Members of the PCBA have access to many CLE opportunities throughout the year.****
Additional juvenile training opportunities are compiled by the Iowa Children's Justice Initiative. On-demand juvenile CLE opportunities hosted by Iowa Children's Justice are also available on iLearn.
SPD Training Coordinator
For more information about training opportunities or to notify our office about opportunities that may be of interest to the indigent defense community in Iowa, you may contact the training coordinator for the Office of the State Public Defender:
Rebecca J. Hanson
Assistant State Public Defender
Office of the State Public Defender
321 E. 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
(515) 242-6158
(515) 281-7289 (fax)
bhanson@spd.state.ia.us