Our Vision
We envision a nationwide community of inspired and dynamic leaders, empowered to lead their defense teams, offices, and districts with exceptional purpose, skill, and resources,
all for the benefit of our clients, for generations to come.
How We Do It
The Federal Defender Leadership Center promises to bring this vision to life by building an environment of inspired training opportunities and engagement in a culture of continuous growth, development, and belonging.
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We are dedicated to providing comprehensive and inclusive leadership and management education, skills training, community building, and resources tailored to the diverse members and needs of the federal defender community.
Our goal is to equip managers and supervisors with the training and tools they need to lead their client-centered teams effectively and sustainably in today’s increasingly complex working environments and unrelenting criminal legal system.
Strategic Plan for All Defender Leaders and Supervisors
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The Leadership Center was established in the fall of 2023 to serve as an independent and robust resource for all defender leaders and supervisors. The founding Advisory Board and Co-Directors set an ambitious strategic plan to provide immediate leadership and management training and support while laying the foundation for a comprehensive leadership development program for all executive, senior, mid-level, and aspiring leaders by the end
of 2028.
At the heart of every resource and training opportunity offered
by the Leadership Center is the enduring commitment of every federal defender to provide zealous representation that respects the human dignity, self-determination, and fundamental rights
of every client. Effective leadership is fundamental to meeting
this commitment.
Visionary and skilled leaders recruit, develop and retain the most creative and committed advocates and defense teams. They also marshal the necessary resources to support full and zealous representation. Maximizing the resources and talent available for clients depends on each leader’s ability to inspire and motivate peak performance and wellbeing, effectively address workplace conflict, and cultivate a culture of resilience, diversity, equity,
and belonging.
The Leadership Center provides continuing leadership
education and support to empower every leader and supervisor
to meet each leader’s vision, values, goals, implementation
plans, and challenging moments with confidence, skill, and
relevant resources.
Specific Goals
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Assess leadership and management needs of the federal defender program
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Develop priorities and provide opportunities for training and support tailored to meet the specific needs and context of leading and managing within the federal criminal legal system
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Make opportunities available to everyone in the public defense community, including lawyers, investigators, paralegals, mitigation specialists, administrative staff, interpreters, and CJA panel attorneys
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Address and support research, training, or other assistance to support federal defender leadership and liaison responsibilities aimed at expanding client representation and defenders’ ability to perform independently without conflict of interest or interference from agencies obligated to different missions
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Continuously adapt and evolve in response to the needs and capacity of the federal defender program
