Save the Date!

State Public Defender's 2011 Trial Skills Academy
May 9 - 13, 2011
Grand Geneva Resort
Lake Geneva, WI

About the Program:

Trial Skills Academy is a one-week program, which provides intense, hands-on learning in a wide range of trial skills. In order to assure a quality experience, the program is limited to 64 participants. Participants are divided into eight small groups based on experience level. Small groups engage in mock voir dire, opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations, and closing arguments. Citizens from the surrounding communities act as jurors and professional actors portray the witnesses. In addition to small group exercises, the Trial Skills Academy format includes lectures, demonstrations, and workshops by a nationally renowned faculty. Skills taught can be applied universally, and are not specific to Wisconsin law.

Not only is Trial Skills Academy a great learning experience for newer lawyers, it is an opportunity for more seasoned lawyers to gain a new perspective on the practice of law. Every year, Trial Skills Academy enrolls lawyers with a broad range of experience--ranging from just out of law school to over 30 years of practice!

Comments from past participants include:

"This was wonderful! I will recommend it to everyone and wish to attend again."

"A very necessary component to the profession."

"Engaging. Very helpful. Built my confidence enormously."

Lodging:

Rooms will be available at the state rate of $70/night.

Registration information will be available in early February.

Video Blog

If you still haven't done so, please check out our new SPD Training Video Blog.  We now have over 25 videos posted!  Simply click on the "Video" tab at the top of this page.

Thank you!

SPD Training Division

Still have questions regarding Act 100?

Check out "What Act 100 Means to Your OWI Practice" by Nina Emerson, Resource Center on Impaired Driving.

Seats Still Available! 2010 Conference Video Replay

Seats are still available at all locations for our upcoming 2010 Conference Video Replay!

Registration Form       Agenda

December 7^th & 8^th in Eau Claire (SPD Office, 21 S. Barstow St., 3rd Floor)

December 9^th & 10^th in Madison (SPD Administration Office, 315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor, Banoul Room)

December 15^th & 16^th in Milwaukee (State Office Building, 819 N. 6th St., Rooms 40/45-Lower Level)

To register, please PRINT OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM (online registration will NOT be available for this program), fill it in by hand, and mail it along with your tuition payment to:

State Public Defender's Office

Attn: Phil Mergen

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI 53703

Specific location information and tuition amounts are included on the registration form.

*Note that space is limited in Eau Claire (only 12 seats available) and in Madison (only 25 seats available).

Those who wish to view only the ethics portion may do so. Please see registration form for details.

Save the Date!

Our 2011 SPD Annual Criminal Defense Conference will be held Thursday November 3 - Friday November 4, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Conference videos are now being posted!

Head on over to our new Video Blog to watch a variety of sessions from our 2010 SPD Annual Criminal Defense Conference.  You can also just simply click on the "Video" tab above to be redirected.

Register Now! SPD Conference Video Replay

Registration Form       Agenda

December 7^th & 8^th in Eau Claire (SPD Office, 21 S. Barstow St., 3rd Floor)

December 9^th & 10^th in Madison (SPD Administration Office, 315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor, Banoul Room)

December 15^th & 16^th in Milwaukee (State Office Building, 819 N. 6th St., Rooms 40/45-Lower Level)

To register, please PRINT OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM (online registration will NOT be available for this program), fill it in by hand, and mail it along with your tuition payment to:

State Public Defender's Office

Attn: Phil Mergen

315 N. Henry St., 2nd Floor

Madison, WI 53703

Specific location information and tuition amounts are included on the registration form.

*Note that space is limited in Eau Claire (only 12 seats available) and in Madison (only 25 seats available).

Those who wish to view only the ethics portion may do so. Please see registration form for details.

The 2010 Annual Criminal Defense Conference has been approved for use toward the Wisconsin mandatory continuing legal education requirement for 15.5 hour(s).  This total includes 3.0 ethics and professional responsibility (EPR) hour(s).

Conference materials are still being posted

Continue to check out the Materials tab for all of the Conference outlines and handouts.  We will be posting them as we receive them.


All of the Juvenile and TPR materials are currently posted at the Private Bar Certification tab.

Online registration is now closed.

You may still register at the door on Wednesday, November 3 and Thursday, November 4.

Don't forget to download the latest agenda and all of the materials.

Conference Materials

Be sure to check out the Materials tab for all of the Conference outlines and handouts.  We will be posting them as we receive them.

Private Bar Certification Training: Juvenile and TPR Cases

The SPD will hold private bar specialty certification training for Juvenile cases and Termination of Parental Rights cases on Tuesday, November 2 (the day before the Conference) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Registration and other information about the Juvenile and TPR programs is available at the SPD website.  Also, click on the tab above.


Register Now

Conference registration is now open!

State Public Defender's 2010 Annual Criminal Defense Conference

Holistic Criminal Defense: From Treatment to Trial

Wednesday, November 3 & Thursday, November 4, 2010

Hyatt Regency - Milwaukee, WI

Agenda         Registration Information         Registration Form

Find us on Facebook & Twitter for a chance to win!

The Wisconsin State Public Defender now has a more powerful way for you to connect with us. We're now on Facebook and Twitter and we invite you to join us. 

As a “friend” of the Wisconsin State Public Defender on Facebook or a “follower” on Twitter, you can learn about upcoming training events (including events sponsored by other organizations); view pictures and video from training events; and learn about CLE credit approvals.  You’ll also connect with a community of people who support our mission to promote justice throughout Wisconsin by providing high-quality and compassionate legal services, protecting individual rights, and advocating as a criminal justice partner for effective defender services and a fair and rational criminal justice system.

Become a friend by clicking “Like” on our Facebook page or become a follower on Twitter, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win $50 off of your 2010 SPD Conference registration!  The drawing will be held on October 13.  (If you are already a friend or a follower, your name will be entered as well)

Thank you!

Mark you calendar for our 2010 Annual Criminal Defense Conference: Wednesday, November 3 – Thursday, November 4, 2010!  Register now!

Digital Scavenger Hunt

With our Annual Criminal Defense Conference just over a month away, we thought that we would offer you the chance to “win” a registration discount.  We have created a digital scavenger hunt that we hope is fun, while allowing you to become more familiar with SPD’s web presence.  The first 10 people to answer all of the questions correctly will receive $30 off of their Conference tuition!

Rules:

First, answer the question.  Second, list where you found the answer (copy & paste the web address).  Hint: answers may be found at more than one location.  When you have all of the answers, simply send your responses in an email to Phil Mergen: mergenp@opd.wi.gov

Questions:

1. How many CLE credits was the 2007 Trial Skills Academy approved for?
2. Who presented “The Keys to Success in Communicating with Difficult Clients” at the 2008 Annual Conference?
3. What was the first line spoken by attorney Craig Johnson in Part 2: Positive Adjustment Time of his “Recent Legislative Changes Affecting Criminal Defense Practice” video?
4. What was the title of attorney Vincent Rust’s presentation at the 2010 Handling a Misdemeanor Case from A to Z program?
5. During our 2010 Leadership Academy, which presentation was attended by a cardboard cut-out of Mother Theresa?
6. In our picture of Dr. Michael Caldwell’s “Juvenile Issues” presentation from the 2010 Chapter 980 Conference, what is the three-word headline on the screen behind him?
7. In what locations and on what three dates did we hold our Principled Negotiations for Lasting Solutions program?
8. What famous Harper Lee character makes an appearance on our Blog?

List of websites to use:

http://www.wisspd.org/html/training/training2.asp

http://www.facebook.com/WisconsinStatePublicDefender (pictures)

http://www.twitter.com/wispdtraining

http://www.youtube.com/wispdtraining (video)

http://www.vimeo.com/wispdtrainig (video)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wispdtraining (pictures)

http://wispdtraining.blogspot.com

Conference registration is now open!

State Public Defender's 2010 Annual Criminal Defense Conference
Holistic Criminal Defense: From Treatment to Trial
Wednesday, November 3 & Thursday, November 4, 2010
Hyatt Regency - Milwaukee, WI
Agenda         Registration Information         Registration Form

More Programming Announced!

• Firearms Evidence: The Science, the History of Firearms Exams, the NAS Report, the Law - Jason Tully, Public Defender Services for the District of Columbia
• Cross-Examining Firearms Experts
• It's Not Infallible: Challenging Fingerprint Evidence - Simon Cole, University of California
• DNA Evidence
• Forensic Science and Junk Science: What's the Difference?
• Smartphone and Mobile Device Forensics
• Using the Latest Developments in Evidence Based Practice to Keep our Clients out of Custody
• Update on the OWI Law
• The Wisconsin Indian Child Welfare Act

"Holistic Criminal Defense: From Treatment to Trial"

This will be the theme of our upcoming Annual Criminal Defense Conference. This year's program will feature:

• Best Practices in Drug Courts with Dr. Doug Marlowe
• How Drug Treatment Courts Should Operate and the Role of the Defense with Honorable Judge Glade F. Roper
• Holistic Defense with the Bronx Defenders
• Panel of Drug Court Graduates
• Immigration and Criminal Defense in the Post-Padilla Era
• Trying an OWI Case from A to Z
• U.S. Supreme Court Review

and much more...

Complete registration materials will be posted to our website in the coming weeks.

Save the Date!

The State Public Defender's 2010 Annual Criminal Defense Conference will be held on November 3 & 4, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Milwaukee.