Read on for important information about upcoming trainings, employment opportunities, a panel recruitment event, FDAP’s annual seminar, and the State Bar’s new pro bono hours reporting requirement.

Statewide Appellate Project Trainings

In a collaborative effort, the appellate projects (CCAP, FDAP, ADI, SDAP & CAP-LA) will now be sharing MCLE trainings to make it easier for panel members to keep current and obtain their required compliance credits. We encourage attorneys to attend trainings hosted by other appellate projects because FDAP will not repeat these topics at our own trainings. Several webinars will take place in November and December:

Dependency Case Law Updates (Hosted by ADI)
November 6, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
ADI staff attorney Laura Furness will cover new California cases, discuss recent case law trends, and highlight some successes in dependency appeals. The program is approved for 1.0 hour of general and appellate specialization MCLE credit.

Use of Technology for Cloud Computing & Remote Work (Hosted by ADI)
December 3, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
ADI staff attorney Christine Johnson will discuss technical competence as it relates to remote work and the use of cloud storage.  1.0 hour of Technology & Law MCLE credit is offered for this training.

New Legislation 2024 (Hosted by FDAP)
December 10, 12:00 p.m.  **Note date change***
As 2024 draws to a close, a host of new legislation relevant to our work and the people we serve will be enacted into law. Please join FDAP staff attorneys Cheryl Anderson and Kaiya Pirolo for an overview of new criminal, juvenile delinquency, and civil commitment laws. This webinar is eligible for MCLE credit, including appellate and criminal specialization credit. The length of the webinar is yet to be determined, depending on the number and complexity of new laws enacted this year. Register here.

Panel Recruitment Event

FDAP’s Annual Seminar – October 10, 2025

Save the date for FDAP’s annual seminar!  Our 2025 seminar will be held in person on October 10, 2025 at the California Endowment center in downtown Oakland. Join us for a day of criminal and dependency breakout sessions, a keynote speaker, lunch, and the opportunity to connect with your colleagues. Approximately 5 hours of MCLE credit, including appellate and criminal specialization, will be provided. We look forward to seeing all of you in 2025!

Pro Bono Hours Reporting Change Effective 2026

A new law (AB 2505) provides that California attorneys shall annually report pro bono hours and reduced-fee services performed for low-income individuals or nonprofits. (New Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 6073.2(b).) While we don’t believe this new requirement exempts panel attorneys (see sec. 6073.2(d)), this is only a reporting requirement (i.e. there is no minimum hours required to be performed), and the bill provides that failure to comply with this new requirement “is not grounds for disciplinary or administrative recourse.” (New Bus. & Prof. Code sec. 6073.2(b).) The State Bar has announced that it “expects to implement this reporting requirement for the 2026 billing cycle.”

Be a FDAP Staff Attorney!

FDAP is hiring one full-time staff attorney. Join us in the rewarding work of representing indigent parties in the California Courts of Appeal in criminal, delinquency, child dependency, and civil commitment appeals.

At FDAP, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace, our legal work, California’s justice system, and the legal profession.  Benefits include robust health care coverage with no employee contribution to premiums.

FDAP is a hybrid office with staff working in the office twice per week; a full-remote schedule would be considered for particularly strong candidates.

Employment Opportunities

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office is hiring a post-conviction attorney (The Freedom Project).

The Northern California Innocence Project is hiring a Legal Director.

Contra Costa Juvenile Advocates (CCJA) is seeking two contract attorneys to prepare writs in juvenile dependency cases.  The compensation is $1750 per writ.  For more information, contact Rhonda Wilson-Rice, attyrwr@yahoo.com.