Attorney Re-Certification
Overview
Court-Appointed Counsel Certification expires after two (2) years. Virginia Indigent Defense Commission (VIDC) approved MCLE courses completed within the past two (2) years can be used towards Re-Certification. Attorneys must complete a Re-Certification Application to become re-certified.
Re-Certification Requirements
- Misdemeanor & Felony requires 6 hours of approved CLE credit
- Juvenile 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
*NOTICE: An amendment to § 19.2-163.03 was approved April 7, 2021 increasing the CLE hour requirement for initial and renewed Court-Appointed Counsel Certification.
Effective July 1, 2021: The number of Misdemeanor/Felony MCLE-approved continuing legal education hours required for initial and renewed Court-Appointed Counsel Certification will increase from six (6) hours to eight (8) hours, two (2) of which shall cover the representation of individuals with behavioral or mental health disorders and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities as defined in § 37.2-100.
Approved CLE Courses
Click the buttons below for a list of eligible coursesBefore you Begin: Check your CLE records against our Previously Approved Course List list to see if you have already attended any eligible courses.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)
- 6/16/21 – Considerations for Representing Non-Neurotypical Defendants: An Introduction to §19.2-271.6 (3 – 4 pm)
- 8/19/21 – 2021 Immigration Update (2 – 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.