Felony Lawyer Training Program

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

The Los Angeles County Public Defender has developed and implemented a program to enhance the preparedness of lawyers new to felony practice. In April 2007, the Public Defender initiated a centralized training program for new felony lawyers. The 18 month program consists of an initial orientation, a 2 day supplemental training, monthly training sessions, a homicide round table and an all day county-wide homicide seminar. Lawyers who have been in a felony assignment 28 months or less are required to participate. These training sessions cover topics important to felony criminal defense practice and are presented by speakers with years of felony experience. This training program has enabled the Public Defender to accelerate movement of lawyers to felony assignments. This has expedited the professional development of lawyers while ensuring high quality legal services, increasing retention of staff and eliminating the recourse of having to declare itself unavailable to accept new felony cases.