Re-Certification – VaDefenders.Org

REQUIREMENTS:

NON-CAPITAL RE-CERTIFICATION

To re-certify for misdemeanor and felony cases, at least 6 hours of approved CLE is required. To re-certify for juvenile cases, in addition to the 6 hours previously mentioned, 4 hours of approved CLE on representing juveniles is required, for a total of at least 10 hours of CLE.**CLE on representing juveniles can be used towards Misdemeanor/Felony re-certification.**Generally, Misdemeanor/Felony CLE do not apply towards Juvenile re-certification.

**Attorneys are not eligible to attend the Initial Certification Training again to Re-Certify. Attorneys should attend a more advanced CLE to be commensurate with experience. Please refer to the VIDC Approved Courses for Re-Certification list found on this page.**

CAPITAL RE-CERTIFICATION

Capital Trial Lead and Co-Counsel Complete at least ten (10) hours of specialized training in capital litigation. (The Annual Capital Defense Workshop, sponsored by the Virginia Bar Association, will meet the re-certification requirement).
Capital Appellate Counsel Complete two (2) hours of particularized capital appellate training.
Capital Habeas Counsel Complete six (6) hours of particularized capital habeas training.

SUNSET PROVISION:Every four (4) years, the capital certification list will expire on December 1st (first Sunset Year is 2019). During a Sunset Year, in order to remain certified, attorneys will need to submit a Sunset Application certifying the completion of the required VIDC approved continued legal education credit hours, as listed above. Additionally, attorneys must provide information regarding their continued representation of criminal defendants in capital murder cases or other serious felonies with the previous four (4) years. Sunset Application are due no later than November 1st of the Sunset Year to avoid any lapse in certification. The expiration of any attorney’s certification will not affect the attorney’s prior appointment in any pending case.

Mandatory Standards of Practice for Indigent Defense Counsel

Once an attorney is certified to serve as court-appointed counsel for indigent defendants, the attorney is required to meet the Standards of Practice. The Standards of Practice is enforced through a complaint process. A finding of a violation of the Standards may result in the removal of the attorney from the certified counsel list.

2020 Approved Re-Certification Courses

NOTE: To check the eligibility of courses you have already taken over the past two (2) years, please see "Past Courses Approved for Re-Certification" on the right side bar of this page.

CLE Sponsors: If you are interested in submitting a CLE course for VIDC re-certification credit approval, please contact Jennifer Gilmore at Certification@vadefenders.org.

Perfecting and Preserving Criminal Appeals to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia
Date: FREE Online Seminar (with Coupon Code: "VAAppeal")
Sponsor: Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Date: January 10, 2020 (Scott County)
Sponsor: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

50th Annual Criminal Law Seminar
Date #1: February 7, 2020 (Charlottesville)
Date #2: February 14, 2020 (Williamsburg)
Video Replays: Available after live event via Virginia CLE
Sponsor: Virginia State Bar/ Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/Registration

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Various Dates & Locations: March 2020 (check website linked below)
Sponsor: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Fee Waiver Application (for Court Appointed Attorneys)
Training Information/ Registration

VIDC Late Day Lecture
Various Dates: March 27, 2020
Sponsor: Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys

Advanced Appellate Advocacy Training
Date: April 2, 2020
Sponsor: VIDC
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys

VACDL Spring Seminar
Date: April 17, 2020
Sponsor: Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/Registration

Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar
(Formerly known as the Annual Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar Advanced Skills for the Experienced Practitioner)
Date: May 1, 2020
Sponsor: Virginia State Bar/ Supreme Court of Virginia
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/Registration

25th Annual Robert E. Shepherd Jr. Juvenile Law & Education Conference
Date: May 15, 2020
Sponsor: University of Richmond/ Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Re-certification Type: Juvenile
Training Information/ Registration

VIDC Late Day Lecture
Various Dates: May 29, 2020
Sponsor: Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys

Annual Introduction to Indigent Defense Appeals
Dates: July 23, 2020
Sponsor: VIDC
Eligibility: VIDC certified attorneys ONLY. Limited Seating Available
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys

Late Day Lecture
Date: September 11, 2020
Sponsor: Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys.

VACDL Fall Seminar
Date: October 2020 (exact date TBD)
Sponsor: Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony/Juvenile
Training Information/ Registration

28th Annual Capital Defense Workshop
Date: November 2020 (exact date TBD)
Sponsor: Virginia Bar Association
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony, Capital
Training Information/ Registration

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Various Dates & Locations: December 2020 (check website linked below)
Sponsor: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Fee Waiver Application (for Court Appointed Attorneys)
Training Information/ Registration

Approved Courses offered by Virginia CLE

We have partnered with Virginia CLE to offer a dedicated VIDC Re-certification page that lists currently available CLE courses that are eligible for VIDC re-certification. Please click the link above to visit the Virginia CLE website page.

Past Courses Approved for Re-Certification

Use the link above to check the eligibility of courses you have taken in the past 2 years. NOTE: VIDC is a separate entity from the Virginia State Bar and does NOT have access to attorney CLE records. Thus, an attorney MUST submit a re-certification application to the VIDC to re-certify.

If you have taken a CLE course that pertains to court appointed case work and you believe it should be added as an eligible course, please send details about the training (Agenda, Course Description, etc.) to our Certification & Compliance Attorney, Jennifer Gilmore via email to Certification@vadefenders.org for review. If approved, it will be added to the list of eligible courses for re-certification.

VIDC Video Replay Library

NOTE: Courses within the VIDC Video Replay Library will NOT offer CLE credit but are offered as a courtesy to use towards VIDC re-certification requirements if you are approaching your expiration date.

To access the Video Replay Library request form linked above, you will need to enter the username and password for the VIDC Attorney Resource website (NOT your Attorney Certification System (ACeS) profile username and password). The username and password for the Attorney Resource website is emailed to all certified attorneys each year using the email address you have on file with VIDC. Please check your email for this information prior to contacting the Certification Department for access details. Certification@vadefenders.org