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Attendance at this training is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending, please complete the below application. Admitted and waitlisted applicants will be notified of their status.
Summary: Gideon’s Promise will lead a 5-day interactive training on client centered representation and advocacy skills for Maine Public Defenders and Assigned Counsel. Participants will learn how to apply client centered principles to indigent defense representation in interactive large and small group sessions led by the nationally recognized Gideon’s Promise faculty. By the end of the 5 days, participants will have a greater appreciation of what goes into indigent defense advocacy and will take away both in-court and out-of-court skills that can be applied immediately to improve one’s ability to represent indigent people. The program hopefully also will help foster continued collaboration and community-building amongst Public Defenders and Assigned Counsel working throughout the state even after the program has ended.
Expectations: This is a demanding program. Participants will be involved in interactive workshops and training sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. There will be nightly reading and preparation for the next day’s training. This out-of-session preparation time can range from 1-3 hours. Participants will be expected to be fully present for all sessions. Participants will need to clear their court calendar or make any other arrangements to facilitate full participation in all sessions. While sessions are ongoing, everyone, including faculty, will be expected to be disengaged from electronic devices, including cell phones.
Location: Lewiston/Auburn area
Are you currently eligible to receive PDS case assignments?
Please, indicate the number of years of criminal defense experience you possess below.
Describe a specific experience in your life that influenced your desire to work as a public defender and explain how it led you to indigent defense work.
Why do you continue to be involved in representing indigent clients?
How do you think a community of public defenders can improve the criminal legal system and the lives of indigent people charged with crimes?
Will you need a hotel to attend the training?
This does not act as a request or approval for reimbursement of a hotel pursuant to Chapter 301-A. Nor does your answer to this question guarantee you a hotel room. This is only used for PDS to determine how many rooms will be needed in the room block.
What nights do you require for your hotel stay?
PDS will provide lunch at this training. We will make every effort to accommodate common dietary restrictions. Do you have any of the following dietary restrictions?
I certify that I have reviewed the agenda for this training and, if selected, I will attend all instructional time. I understand that space is very limited and that PDS incurs food costs for each person who registers to attend. If I am unable to attend, I will immediately notify PDS via email to darcy.fisher@maine.gov so that someone from the waitlist may be invited to attend.
I certify that if I am selected to attend the training but do not attend it in its entirety, this may affect my eligibility to attend future PDS CLEs.
I certify that I understand that the training is an intensive interactive training and, if selected to attend, I will be fully engaged with the content.
I understand that, if selected to attend, I will be required to refrain from multitasking during all instructional time. If I am found to be engaged in multitasking during instructional time, I may not be eligible to receive CLE credit or payment in accordance with Chapter 301-A.