PATH Conference Agenda
Saturday, August 3, 2013
8:15 AM to 8:45 AM
Conference Check-In
8:45 AM
Welcoming Remarks
Melanie Rowen, Assistant Director for Public Interest Programs, Berkeley Law
Opening Plenary Address – “How Can You NOT Defend Those People?”
Jeff Adachi, Public Defender of San Francisco
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM — PATH SESSION I
Concurrent Workshops
- Get Over Yourself: Client-Centered Representation & Indigent Criminal Defense
Client-centered representation is not only the most prevalent theory of lawyering
taught in law school clinics,
it is a hallmark of some of the strongest public defender offices in the United States. But what is a client-
centered approach to representation of indigent clients in criminal matters
and
how does that approach manifest itself in the trial attorney’s daily practice? When necessary and appropriate, how do you put aside your ego to fully listen to and act upon your client’s wishes, regardless of whether you believe those wishes are in the client’s “best interest”? Panelists will define client-centeredness, what it means in their practice and how to approach a public defender career with
a client-centered ethic.
- Knowing the Law is Nice, But… How Investigation Wins Cases
Movies, television, and mock trials all focus on the excitement of litigation and the skill of the trial lawyer, but
the
trial only tells a small part of the story. It is the preparation prior to trial that makes the real difference. While knowing the law and being skillful in the courtroom are key, case investigation often makes or breaks
the
case. This interactive tutorial will demonstrate how to conceptualize the investigation of the criminal case
and
provide resources you can use in your public defense career.
- I Think (Maybe) I’m in Love: Figuring Out Whether Public Defense Is For You
Indigent criminal defense is arguably one of the most difficult – yet most rewarding – legal careers. Relatively
low pay, crazy difficult hours and last in line in the popularity contest of public perception, students and
lawyers who choose to pursue careers in indigent criminal defense should be absolutely sure that it’s the right move. Drawing on their personal experiences, the panelists will discuss what drew them to public defense, personality commonalities of public defenders, and the types of law school experiences you can pursue to figure out whether this work is right for you.
11:00 AM to 12:30 PM — PATH SESSION II
Concurrent Workshops
-
Beyond Burnout: Build a Sustainable
Career, Create a Better System
How do you stay healthy, mentally and physically, while working as hard as your clients need you to? What do new attorneys need to know about developing a sustainable career? This panel will
address the importance of creating networks of support, both
personally and to draw upon for information, as well as effective professional
development.
- We Put the ‘D’ in PD: Defense Theory & Crafting a Cohesive Trial Narrative
A skilled trial lawyer can create
the impression that they were just “born good,” that innate talent is carrying
the
day. There are certainly defense attorneys
who have a natural gift, but even they will tell you that in the end it all comes down to preparation. The starting point for the criminal defense attorney is the theory on which she builds her case.
Using case materials and audience participation, the panelists will demonstrate how
to analyze fact patterns to
develop a defense theory and trial narrative.
- What Do You Want From Me?! What Public Defender Offices Are Looking For
Unlike private-sector
employers, mission-driven public interest organizations place a high importance on
identifying
those applicants who not only will excel at the work, but who are truly committed to their clients
and
mission. The sheer number and diversity of public defender offices, combined with a relative dearth of information about how those offices hire, makes the indigent criminal defense hiring process seem shrouded in mystery. Panelists representing a small, a mid-size and a large PD office will give you the inside scoop on
what they’re looking for and how to position yourself to get to “yes.”
12:30 PM
Lunch with the Defenders
Join defenders from a variety of offices in
small group discussions about their offices, hiring and life as a PD.
1:45 PM to 3:15 PM — PATH SESSION III
Concurrent Workshops
- Death Penalty Defense for Indigent Clients
The most difficult cases that a defender can handle
are death penalty cases. Deciding to
commit your career – even
part of your career – to representing clients on death row requires deep
self-reflection and highly specialized training. The panelists will provide an overview of death penalty work in the United States, discuss
what types of
defenders pursue the work and outline the types of experience necessary
to secure a job as a death penalty attorney.
- Love Don’t Pay the Bills: Affording Your Public Defender Career
It’s never been a secret
that public interest careers pay significantly less than private sector ones, but the
rising drumbeat of negative press about salaries and skyrocketing student loan debt can give pause to even the most dedicated
public interest student. Luckily, this presentation will put your fears at ease and allow you
to continue focusing on becoming a public
defender.
- Fit Matters: Identifying YOUR Best PD Office
To the outside observer, a PD
office is a PD
office is…a PD office. But those in
the
know are only too aware that
offices differ dramatically and that a great fit for one applicant can be a miserable mismatch for the next. Using their personal experiences as a backdrop, the panelists will share their thought processes and research in how they identified which offices to pursue and why, and give you some tips about useful markers in
making your decision.
3:15 PM to 4:30 PM — PATH SESSION IV
Concurrent Workshops
- Other Than the Trial, How Was Your Day? Careers Across the Defense Spectrum
Most people assume that public defense only means trial work, but there is so much more to representing our
clients. Panelists who are working in different aspects of criminal defense and criminal justice will discuss their work and why they chose the work they do.
- Preparation + Opportunity = Art: Nuts & Bolts of Cross-Examination for the Defense Attorney
It’s been said that cross examination is an art. While there is certainly an art to it, cross-examination is truly about preparation and a full understanding of what you, the advocate, are trying to accomplish. This
interactive session will provide the nuts and bolts of cross-examination and provide the audience with an understanding of
how
art is made.
- Like I Wasn’t Stressed Enough: Role Playing, Hypotheticals & the Public Defender Interview
Although pressure interviews, performance
tasks, and behavioral questions have been getting more attention
in recent years, public defenders have always utilized such tools to help identify the best candidates for the
job.
Candidates unfamiliar with the public defender interview
are at a distinct disadvantage in the hiring
process and can be caught completely off guard. The panelists will discuss the tools public defenders use to
interview candidates and provide examples of the types of questions asked in
PD interviews.
4:45 PM
After PATH Networking Happy Hour (at Free House
On Bancroft
Way at College Avenue, directly across from law school entrance)
Still want to “talk PD?”
Join the PATH conference participants in the relaxed atmosphere of Free House to continue the conversation and network with
members of the public interest legal community.