Defenders Association Completes Record Number of Trainings in October

ALBANY, NY (10/28/2009)(readMedia)-- In October, the New York State Defenders Association (NYSDA) provided high-quality regional training events in Rochester and nearby Brockport, Batavia, Poughkeepsie, Auburn, and Albany. This was a record-breaking number of trainings for the Association in one month. Additional continuing legal education programs are slated for November in New York City, Rochester, and Buffalo.

By making relevant training more accessible to public defense lawyers, NYSDA helps improve the quality of legal representation provided to low income people. It also saves cash-strapped county public defense programs and attorneys time and money. Three hundred and fifty attorneys in five counties participated in these events.

The six October trainings covered a wide variety of topics, from focused, technical presentations like "Evidence Foundations" to updates for lawyers providing specialized representation to parents in Family Court. Lawyers at these events received information they could use to help clients while obtaining mandatory continuing education credits.

NYSDA often works with other entities, such as the Cayuga County Criminal Defenders, Appellate Division-Fourth Judicial Department, and Federal Defender Office for the Northern District of New York and Vermont when presenting training. The training unit of NYSDA's Public Defense Backup Center, like its other functions, stretches state dollars and funds from other sources, maximizing efforts to improve the fairness of New York State's justice system.

For more information about NYSDA, its Backup Center, and upcoming training events, visit www.nysda.org or call 518-465-3524.

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