Re-Certification

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.

2019 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.

Traffic & DUI Case Law Update
Date: January 25, 2019  
Sponsor: Prince William County Bar Association
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony

49th Annual Criminal Law Seminar
Date #1: February 1, 2019 (Charlottesville) 
Date #2: February 8, 2019 (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: March 13 & 21 (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

VACDL Spring Seminar
Date: April 5, 2019
Sponsor: Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/Registration

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Various Dates: April 5, 19, & 26 (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

VA CLE:  Gang Law & Trends in Virginia
Date: April 11, 2019  (Live, Webcast, Telephone)
Sponsor: Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/Registration

Essentials of Appellate Advocacy
Date: April 12, 2019
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

Transgender Youth and System-Level Reform for Girls
Date: April 12, 2019
Sponsor:  UVA Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy
Re-certification Type: Juvenile
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 3, 2019
Sponsor:  Virginia State Bar/ Supreme Court of Virginia
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony and Juvenile
Training Information/Registration

VA CLE:  Gang Law & Trends in Virginia
Date: May 3, 2019  (Webcast & Telephone w/ live Q&A)
Sponsor: Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/Registration

Understanding Rap Sheets, Automation & SWIFT!
Various Dates: May 6, 7, & 8th (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

Criminal Speedy Trial Litigation in Virginia - Keeping Your Case "Up to Speed"
Various Dates: May 9, 2019 (& May 30th Replay with Live Q&A)
Sponsor:  Virginia CLE
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

24th Annual Robert E. Shepherd Jr. Juvenile Law & Education Conference
Date: May 17, 2019
Sponsor:  University of Richmond
Re-certification Type: Juvenile
Training Information/ Registration

Initial Capital Certification Training
Dates: June 13-14, 2019
Sponsor: VIDC
Re-certification Type: Capital Trial Counsel & Co-Counsel, Capital Appellate
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys. See Capital Certification page also.

Understanding Rap Sheets, Automation & SWIFT!
Various Dates: June 11, 13, 21, & 25th (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

VIDC Late Day Lecture
Various Dates: June 28, 2019
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 19, 2019
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

Capital Habeas Certification Training
Date: July 26, 2019
Sponsor: VIDC
Re-certification Type: Capital Habeas
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys. See Capital Certification page also.

Late Day Lecture
Date: August 23, 2019
Sponsor: Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Registration: Details are emailed to applicable certified court appointed attorneys.

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Date: September 12, 2019 
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

2019 VBBA - VA Beach JDR Annual CLE
Date: September 12, 2019
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Juvenile
Training Information/ Registration

Advanced Sentencing Guidelines & Ethics
Various Dates: September 13, 16, 19, 23, 24, 25, & 26th (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Various Dates: October 1, 8, 15, & 16th (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

VMVLA 2019 Fall CLE Seminar
Various Dates: October 4th & 11th (check link below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

VACDL Fall Seminar
Date: October 18, 2019
Sponsor:  Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (VACDL)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony/Juvenile
Training Information/ Registration

ABA Legal Skills Conference
Date: October 18, 2019
Sponsor:  American Bar Association (ABA)
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony/Juvenile

Training Information/ Registration

27th Annual Capital Defense Workshop
Date: November 21-22, 2019
Sponsor:  Virginia Bar Association
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony, Capital
Training Information/ Registration

Introduction to Sentencing Guidelines
Various Dates: December 3, 5, 10, 11 & 13th (check website linked below)
Sponsor:  Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission
Re-certification Type: Misdemeanor/Felony
Training Information/ Registration

For details regarding your application status or re-certification requirements, please contact Ms. Jennifer Gilmore, Certification & Compliance Attorney.  Email certification@vadefenders.org or call (804) 662-7249, ext. 134

Approved Courses offered by Virginia CLE:

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

Past Courses Approved for Re-Certification:

Check the eligibility of courses you have already taken:

Please note that VIDC is a separate entity from the VSB and does not have access to attorneys' certificate of completion of CLEs. Thus, an attorney must submit a re-certification form 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.

*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.

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 ACeS 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 details. Certification@vadefenders.org