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Future Appointed Counsel Training (FACT) Program
Class of 2014
Applications Due: Monday, March 31, 2014
The Harris County Public Defender’s Office (PDO) has established a year-long training program for new criminal defense lawyers. The U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, awarded the PDO a competitive grant called “Answering Gideon’s Call: Improving Indigent Defense Delivery Systems” to develop the Future Appointed Counsel Training (FACT) Program. The goal of the FACT Program is to provide comprehensive training, mentoring, and support for new criminal defense lawyers to ensure that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively represent indigent defendants. The program seeks to increase the number of high-quality attorneys who are eligible for appointment to represent indigent defendants in Harris County.
Description of the Program
Through a highly competitive selection process, ten new attorneys will be awarded a position in the FACT Class of 2014. (There was a previous Class of 2013.) The program will feature:
Gideon’s Promise “Core 101” Program – an elite, national training program for “NextGen Defenders,” featured in the HBO documentary “Gideon’s Army.” Training is provided by Gideon’s Promise (http://gideonspromise.org/) in Birmingham, Alabama at Samford University and Atlanta, and includes:
• The Summer Institute – a “boot camp” 14-day training session August 2 – 16, 2014. All travel, lodging, and training expenses provided by FACT for the Summer Institute.
• Semi-annual, weekend-long sessions for advanced, follow-up training through 2017.
All travel, lodging, and training expenses provided for sessions in January and August 2015. Training expenses only are paid for the remaining three required meetings.
“In-House Training” from the Public Defender’s Office – education specific to Harris County practice, including:
• An intensive two-day training on trial skills, Texas criminal law, the ABA’s Ten Principles, and the State Bar of Texas’s “Performance Guidelines for Non-Capital Criminal Defense.”
• Frequent CLEs on criminal law and criminal defense strategies from the best local attorneys.
Personalized Mentorship – all FACT members will receive one year of individual, customized training from experienced mentors engaged in the private practice of criminal defense.
• FACT only employs mentors with the highest reputations of excellence to teach their craft.
• Shadowing, observation, and collaboration on real cases defended in Harris County.
• Detailed instruction plus interaction with key players give an unparalleled edge in local practice.
1201 Franklin Street, 13th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002 713.368.0016 Office # 713.368.9278 Fax #
2 Applicant Qualifications
Applicants must meet the following qualifications by the time the program begins in August 2014:
• Graduation from an accredited law school, and
• Completion of the Texas Bar Examination.
• If licensed, in good standing and licensed as an attorney for less than 3 years.
• The desire to practice criminal defense in Harris County.
• The ability to engage in an intensive, unpaid training and mentoring program for one year and follow-up training sessions over the next two years.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit the following materials as part of their application packet:
• Application Form
• Resume (max 3 pages)
• Law School Transcript
• Photo of Yourself
• Personal Statement (up to 5 pages) or Writing Sample (up to 10 pages)
• Two Letters of Recommendation
Applicants for the 2014 class must email their application packet by March 31, 2014 to:
Interviews and Final Decisions
Interviews with final candidates are expected to take place in mid-to-late April. Final decisions on accepted applicants for the class of 2014 will be made by mid-May.
Orientation
An orientation for the class of 2014 will occur in early June.
For additional information or questions contact:
Scott Ehlers Legal and Policy Analyst
Harris County Public Defender’s Office [email protected]
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Future Appointed Counsel Training Program
Application Form
Due: Monday, March 31, 2014
Name __________________________________________ Preferred first name __________________ Home Address ______________________________________________________________________ City ____________________________________ State ____________________ Zip _____________ Phone ____________________________ E-mail___________________________________________ Date of Birth ________________________ Drivers License Number ___________________________ How did you learn about the FACT Program? ______________________________________________ BAR EXAM
Date of Exam _______________ Date of Results _________________ Date of Licensing ___________ LAW SCHOOL
Institution _________________________________________________________________________ Graduation Date ________________________ GPA _____________ Class Rank % _______________ COLLEGE
Institution _________________________________________________________________________ Major & Degree ______________________________ Grad Date ____________ GPA _____________ List any other colleges and degrees _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ EMPLOYMENT
Current Employment _________________________________________________________________
1201 Franklin Street, 13th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002 713.368.0016 Office # 713.368.9278 Fax #
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Anticipated Employment August 2014 – August 2015
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Languages other than English in which you are fluent:
__________________________________________________________________________________ You may answer the following by writing or typing in the space provided, or you may use a separate sheet of paper.
1. What issues are you most passionate about?
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What do you envision yourself doing in the future?
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 3. Describe an experience in your life that influenced your desire to practice criminal defense.
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Why do you want to practice in Harris County?
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 5. What would you hope to achieve from being a part of the FACT Program?
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What do you NOT want to do as part of the FACT Program or in future career endeavors?
__________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________
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Your application must contain the following:
• Application Form
• Resume (max 3 pages)
• Law School Transcript
• Photo of Yourself
• Personal Statement (up to 5 pages) or Writing Sample (up to 10 pages)
• Two Letters of Recommendation
*No applications will be considered unless they are complete and submitted according to the instructions.
___________________________________________________________________ CERTIFICATION
By signing below, I hereby certify that all the information that I have given in this application and attachments is my own and is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
I further certify that I understand this program
requires
a three year commitment and attendancein each training session only excusable by extraordinary circumstances.
Applicant Signature _____________________________________ Date __________________
___________________________________________________________________ Completed applications and questions must be directed to:
Scott Ehlers Legal and Policy Analyst
Harris County Public Defender’s Office [email protected]
