Attorney Re-Certification
Attorney Certification for each case type expires after 2 years. Upcoming expiration notices are sent via email to the attorney contact information on-file with the Virginia Indigent Defense Commission. It is the responsibility of the certified attorney to keep all requested contact information up-to-date. The attorney's name, firm name, address and phone number will also appear on the Certified Court-Appointed Counsel list provided for court-appointments. (Note: Attorney emails are NOT made public on this list.)
Any VIDC approved courses completed within the past 2 years can be used towards Re-Certification. Attorneys must complete a Re-Certification Application in order to renew each desired case type. Further details are provided below.
Misdemeanor & Felony Re-Certification
- Requires 6 hours of approved CLE credit
Juvenile Re-Certification
- Requires the previously mentioned 6 hours + 4 hours of approved CLE on representing juveniles (10 hours total)
*See Statutory Authority or Frequently Asked Questions for more details or contact the Certification Department at Certification@vadefenders.org or (804) 662-7249 ext. 1
2021 Approved Re-Certification CLE
Check your CLE records against our Previously Approved Course List list to see if you have already attended any eligible courses.CLE Sponsors: If you are interested in submitting a CLE course for VIDC re-certification credit approval, please contact the Certification Department at Certification@vadefenders.org.
VIDC 2021 Webcast Series:
CLE Type: Live Online via Zoom
Re-certification Type: Various
Eligibility: Open to certified court-appointed attorneys ONLY
Cost: Free
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court-appointed attorneys. Please be sure your email is up-to-date in our Attorney Certification System (ACeS)
- 1/21/21 – Effectively Using Virginia’s New ex parte Expert Process (3 – 4 pm)
- 3/11/21 – Junk Science: How to Defend an Arson Case (2:30 – 4 pm)
- 3/24/21 – Suppression: Roadblocks, K-9 Delays, PBTs, & Calibration (3 – 4 pm)
- 4/7/21 – COVID-19 and Incarceration (2:30 – 4:00 pm)
- 4/8/21 – Trial Strategy in a Post-2020 World (2 – 4 pm)
- 4/14/21 – The Role of Defense Counsel in Specialty Courts & Dockets (3 – 4 pm)
- 4/15/21 – Bodily Injury (2:30 – 4 pm)
- 4/21/21 – Virginia DJJ Standardized Disposition Matrix (3 – 4 pm)
- 5/6/21 – Medical Records Revealed (2:30 – 4 pm)
- 5/20/21 – Alleged Injuries (2:30 – 4 pm)
- 6/3/21 – Assignments of Error (3 – 4 pm)
- 6/9/21 – Experts 101: The Who, What & How of Medical Experts (2:30 – 4 pm)
We’re always adding courses — be sure to check back again soon
Defining the School to Prison Pipeline
Date: March 12, 2021
Sponsor: University of Richmond Public Interest Law Review
Re-certification Type: Juvenile
Cost: Free
Training Information/ Registration
Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr. Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar
Date: May 7, 2021
Sponsor: Virginia State Bar/ Supreme Court of Virginia
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Cost: Free
Training Information/ Registration
Perfecting and Preserving Criminal Appeals to the Court of Appeals of Virginia and the Supreme Court of Virginia
On-demand Online Seminar
Sponsor: Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Cost: Free *with coupon code “VAAppeal” (normal price $149)
Training Information/ Registration
Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Date: Various dates & locations – check website linked below
Sponsor: Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration
Fee Waiver Application (for Court Appointed Attorneys)
Virginia CLE
We have partnered with Virginia CLE to offer a dedicated listing of VIDC Re-certification eligible courses offered on their website. See approved courses at VACLE.org – VIDC Re-certification Page
51st Annual Criminal Law Seminar
Date: February 12, 2021
Sponsor: Virginia State Bar/ Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration
VACDL Spring Seminar
Date: May 14, 2021
Sponsor: Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration
25th Annual Robert E. Shepherd Jr. Juvenile Law & Education Conference
Date: May 21, 2021
Sponsor: University of Richmond/ Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Re-certification Type: Juvenile
Training Information/ Registration
VACDL Annual Meeting & Fall CLE
Date: August 26 – 27, 2021
Sponsor: Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration
28th Annual Capital Defense Workshop
Date: TBD
Sponsor: Virginia Bar Association
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony, Capital
Upcoming Events
CLE Reporting Note
VIDC is a separate entity from the Virginia State Bar and does NOT have access to attorney CLE records. Therefore, it is the certified attorney's responsibility to submit completed courses via a re-certification application.