MCLE Opportunities

SAVE THE DATE –  September 14, 2026 – 8:30 a.m. – tbd

for CAP-LA’s Dependency Seminar – In Person and via Zoom

Location:
California Endowment Center – Los Angeles – with free limited parking and onsite cafe.
1000 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Topics will be announced at a later date.

SAVE THE DATE – October 23, 2026
We look forward to seeing you at FDAP’s annual in-person seminar at the California Endowment Center in Oakland. We will have a full program with criminal and dependency break out sessions. More details to follow here and on FDAP’s website.

Unless otherwise noted these trainings are intended for criminal defense team members only, including attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals, mitigation specialists, law office professionals, and other job roles on defense teams.

Free Defend-On-Demand Online Courses
IDID is pleased to provide you with a catalog of the FREE courses we offer. These courses are self-paced, and most are eligible for self-study MCLE credit.

Link to catalog of free courses offered.

7/8 – Statewide Summer Defender Series – Racial Justice Act for Summer Defenders
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – remote
BROOKE MCCARTHY, Racial Justice Act Attorney, Office of the State Public Defender

The Racial Justice Act is a groundbreaking law that allows people to raise issues of bias or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or national origin; it is a powerful tool to help defend your clients. This session will introduce the foundational framework of the RJA, including: the purpose of the law, an overview of the statutory language, developing case law, and common defense strategies to apply the RJA in your cases. The session will also describe where to find RJA resources and active defense communities focused on RJA advocacy.

Zoom Registration Link

***1 hour of MCLE in Recognition and Elimination of Bias is offered for this training***

7/21 – Statewide Summer Defender Series – Defending the Whole Client: Holistic Defense and Collateral Consequences
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – remote
CHELSEA BOND, Training Attorney, Office of the State Public Defender
HAYLEY DEWEY, Training Attorney, Office of the State Public Defender
ABIGAIL-RESENDIZ-ZUNIGA, Social Services Specialist, Office of the State Public Defender

A person ensnared in the criminal legal system will often face significant collateral consequences impacting their housing, parental rights, employment, or immigration status. Holistic defense practice not only addresses a client’s immediate criminal charges: the defense team strives to address a client’s underlying needs and the potential consequences they face as a result of their criminal case. In this webinar, participants will be introduced to the fundamental principles/benefits of holistic defense and steps defenders can take to incorporate holistic defense models in their practice. Participants will also learn to identify common collateral consequences of criminal cases, how to properly advise clients regarding these consequences, and how to mitigate these consequences through alternative case resolutions.

Zoom Registration Link

***1 hour of MCLE is offered for this training***

7/28 – Litigating 1473.7 Motions to Vacate a Conviction or Sentence
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM – remote
MARTIN LIJTMAER, Owner, Law Offices of Martin Lijtmaer

Learn when to use a Motion to Vacate a Conviction or Sentence in California (PC 1473.7 motion) and what a successful motion can do for a client, especially in the realm of immigration. Join this webinar to strengthen your skills in filing and arguing PC 1473.7 motions to maximize chances of success.

Zoom Registration Link

***1 hour of MCLE is offered for this training***

Racial Justice On-Demand Course
“OSPD is excited to open a new on-demand course on the Racial Justice Act. You will learn all the basics, refresh your knowledge, and stay up to date on RJA developments! These videos and written materials have been collected from around the state and are meant to help practitioners regardless of their experience in litigating the RJA.”

*Participants are able to earn up to 10 hours MCLE self-study and specialty credit.
Information & Registration Link

Defending Against SVP Commitments On-Demand Course
This course is intended for anyone in Indigent defense looking to learn more about Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) petitions and defending against these civil commitments. Those taking this course from start to finish can expect to spend approximately 9 hours to complete. However, registrants should also feel free to take this course at their own pace. Completion of this course earns 8.25 hours of general MCLE credits.

*Participants are able to earn up to 8.25 hours of MCLE self-study credit.
Information & Registration Link

Mental Health Diversion – New Resource Page
Introducing a continually growing set of resources on mental health diversion, Pen. Code 1001.36, now live on the Training SharePoint. Resources include recent mental health diversion case summaries, copies of pretrial writ appellate briefing in People v. Superior Court (Taylor) (issue: undue risk of danger to public safety) and Jones v. Superior Court (issue: wrongful termination of diversion), and a one-pager overview of the published Taylor opinion, including arguments prosecutors may raise and potential defense responses. Access to the Training SharePoint is limited to indigent defense practitioners. Access is free, but prior registration is required: https://bit.ly/OSPDReg.