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 training.pds@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
Topical Research on Westlaw
Date: August 13, 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]
Third Annual Public Defense Conference
Date: October 20-23, 2025
Host: PDS
Credits: PENDING
Cost: Free
Location: University of Southern Maine Lewiston/Auburn Campus
51 Westminster Street, Lewiston
Registration: [Register Here]
Youth Defender Conference
Date: October 24, 2025
Host: PDS
Credits: PENDING
Cost: Free
Location: University of Southern Maine Lewiston/Auburn Campus
51 Westminster Street, Lewiston
Registration: [Register Here]
PDS Approved Trainings
The credits for the approved trainings listed below are approved for PDS credit (NOT eligible for payment) but may not be approved for credit by the Board of Overseers of the Bar.
Upcoming Trainings
Fearless Advocacy for Criminal Defense Lawyers
Date: August 12, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Host: NAPD and AILA
Credits: 1.25
Registration: [Register Here]
Fearless Advocacy for Immigration Lawyers
Date: August 13, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Host: NAPD and AILA
Credits: 1.25
Registration: [Register Here]
Team Mitigation Institute – NYC
Date: August 13 - 15, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Host: NAPD
Credits: 6
Registration: [Register Here]
Social Workers in Public Defense: Findings and Recommendations from North Carolina
Date: August 22, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Host: UNC School of Government
Credits: 1.25
Registration: [Register Here]
Defending Youth at the Intersection of Race & Disability
Date: August 26, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Host: The Gault Center, Georgetown Law's Juvenile Justice Clinic & Initiative, and the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Gault Center
Credits: 2
Registration: [Register Here]
Defending Families, Protecting Futures: The Frontlines of Defense Advocacy Skills Training
Date: September 10 - 12, 2025, from varied
Host: NAPD
Credits: 12.25
Registration: [Register Here]
24th Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference (2025)
Date: October 9-10, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00/4:00 p.m.
Host: NACDL
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.