To become eligible to receive assignments, an attorney must first complete a PDS-sponsored or PDS-approved training in the area(s) of practice for which they want to receive assignments.
Every rostered attorney must complete 8 hours of Commission-approved CLE courses per year. See Chapter 3 for additional CLE requirements for specialized case types.
Accessing Prior PDS Trainings
Prior PDS trainings are viewable on-demand through our online training library, Talent LMS. Viewing trainings on-demand does count for PDS CLE credit, but not payment or Board of Overseers CLE credit. Please direct any questions about PDS trainings to darcy.fisher@maine.gov.
Please view specific sections of our course catalog for different panels by clicking here.
How To Access Talent LMS
Assigned Counsel: Login page click here. Employed Counsel: Login page click here.
You should have received an email with your credentials. If you lose this email, you can visit the appropriate login page and click on ‘Forgot Password’ to reset your credentials.
Current PDS Sponsored Trainings
Time spent attending trainings sponsored by PDS may be compensable pursuant to Chapter 301-A. That Chapter establishes attendance and eligibility requirements that govern whether Counsel may seek and receive payment for the time they spend attending PDS sponsored trainings.
Upcoming Trainings
Legal Research on Westlaw: Statutes and Legislative History
Date: July 2, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 1
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register Here]
Litigating with Challenging People
Date: July 14, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 1 [pending]
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register Here]
Secondary Sources on Westlaw
Date: July 23, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 1
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register Here]
The Question Spectrum
Date: July 28 - 30, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 19.50
Cost: Free
Location: Central Maine Community College, 1250 Turner Street, Auburn ME
Registration: [Apply Here]
[Download the Agenda Here]
What's New on Westlaw
Date: August 6, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 1
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register Here]
Topical Research on Westlaw
Date: August 19, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 1
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register Here]
Swimming with Sharks, The Sequel
Date: August 25, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Host: PDS
Credits: 2
Cost: Free
Location: Zoom
Registration: [Register Here]
PDS Approved Trainings
The credits for the approved trainings listed below are approved for PDS credit, but may not be approved for credit by the Board of Overseers of the Bar.
Upcoming Trainings
Public Defenders and Police Accountability: Identifying and Preserving Client Claims
Date: June 25, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Host: NACDL and NPAP
Credits: 1.5
Registration: [Register Here]
Advocating for Queer Clients
Date: August 5, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Host: Advancing Real Change, Inc.
Credits: 1.5
Registration: [Register Here]
Team Mitigation Institute – NYC
Date: August 13 - 15, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Host: NAPD
Credits: PENDING
Registration: [Register Here]
Racial Justice Conference 2025
Date: October 27-30, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Host: NAPD
Credits: PENDING
Registration: [Register Here]
We the Defenders (for all but the social work track)
Date: December 15-17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Host: NAPD
Credits: PENDING
Registration: [Register Here]
Prior Trainings
Please note that the prior approved trainings have been removed from this page. That information can now be found here.