David Barksdale, a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville for the past 23 years and partner with Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe, is one of close to 50 local practitioners who have participated in Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities since it began in 2010.
While discussing the benefits of the program, which provides free criminal law training to private attorneys in advance of assigning them a public defender client, Barksdale had no shortage of positive feedback.
“What Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities first revealed to me is the dedication to their clients and to the law the County Court attorneys in the PD Office bring to the table,” said Barksdale. “The chance to work alongside the APDs and manage one or two of their cases is a win-win for Jacksonville.
“It allows the Bar to provide private resources to a very busy, perhaps even overworked office; it gives private attorneys valuable, hands-on trial experience; and, most importantly, it works to ensure that those accused continue to receive good legal representation.”
Having completed two case assignments in 2014, Barksdale indicated that the program even offered him a personal benefit aside from the satisfaction of giving back to his community: “It was critical to helping me achieve recertification for the Florida Bar Criminal Trial Board.”
He is quick to recommend to attorneys throughout Jacksonville – civil litigators and criminal defense lawyers alike –– to participate in the program, which is designed to meet the needs of any practitioner who might sign up.
“This program is a good opportunity for a number of law firms who may want their younger associates to handle cases and obtain jury trial experience,” he said. “I encourage you to look into Pro Bono Opportunities.”
Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities was first introduced in Jacksonville in 2010 under Public Defender Matt Shirk as part of the Jacksonville Bar Association ONE Program.
It begins each spring with a free, eight-hour Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminar on various subjects in criminal law.
The curriculum is coordinated by Assistant Public Defender and County Court Director Kate Bedell, who has arranged the presentations that prepare attorneys to effectively represent an indigent client facing a criminal misdemeanor charge.
The CLE takes place from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 17 in the first Floor Assembly Room of The Office of the Public Defender, 407 N. Laura St. Following completion of the CLE, participants qualify for appointment as special assistant public defenders and Bedell assigns each attorney a County Court case where they will represent a public defender client facing a criminal misdemeanor charge.
Each special assistant receives full access to public defender office resources, including investigations, paralegals and support staff as they may relate to their case.
Once a case is completed, special assistants are welcome to take on another case.
Attorneys who intend to participate in The 2015 Public Defender Pro Bono Opportunities CLE are asked to reserve your seat at the event by emailing [email protected] by close of business Wednesday.
This will also ensure you are properly credited for the CLE hours through The Florida Bar.
Additional questions can be directed to Bedell at (904) 255-4740.