Panel Attorney Guide

Applying to the Panel

FDAP trains and oversees a panel of approximately 300 attorneys who are appointed by the Court of Appeal to represent indigent parties in criminal, delinquency, dependency, and civil commitment appeals. Most panel attorneys are solo practitioners or employed by small firms. Click here for information about applying to the panel.

Panel Attorney Policies & Procedures

Our panel attorney policies and procedures guide provides detailed information on the obligations of panel attorneys and the support and supervision provided by FDAP.

Getting Paid

The primary source of information on panel attorney compensation claims is the Statewide Compensation Manual first published in 2019. In addition, panel attorneys must adhere to the Judicial Council of California (JCC) and Appellate Indigent Defense Oversight Advisory Committee (AIDOAC) compensation policies.

Appeal Checklist

The appeals checklist lists the steps that appellate counsel should generally follow. Counsel should review the checklist before each new case and refer to it throughout the appeal. The list is meant only as a general guide. Counsel will have to exercise independent judgment in every case.

March 2024 Panel Bulletin

Read on for important information about FDAP’s in-person annual seminar, personnel updates, upcoming trainings, and panel victories. FDAP In-Person Annual ...

February 2024 Panel Bulletin

Read on for important information about student loan forgiveness for panel attorneys, claim tips, updating templates with FDAP’s current address, registration ...

Locating and Contacting a Person in Custody