Upcoming Webinars

No webinars are scheduled at this time. Check back often for updates.

Recorded Webinars

We are continuously updating our website. If you are looking for a webinar that is not posted below, please feel free to contact us at justice@american.edu, visit our Youtube channel.

R2C Quarterly Webinars

In an effort to inform and engage policymakers, criminal justice stakeholders, and the community on the importance of meaningfully carrying out the Sixth Amendment, the Right to Counsel National Campaign at American University, within the Justice Programs Office, hosts a quarterly webinar covering an array of Sixth Amendment related topics.

September 2016

Click here for the PowerPoint handout
Links to videos referenced by Just City: Video 1 Video 2 Video 3

  • An update on federal legislation and national reform efforts by Madhu Grewal of The Constitution Project
  • A discussion about how indigent defense research can impact change and be combined with other strategies to push for reform with Andy Davies of the New York Office of Indigent Legal Services
  • A presentation on how community organizations can aid indigent defense advocacy efforts by Josh Spickler and Allison Gibbs of Just City

June 2016

Click here for the PowerPoint handout

March 2016


Right to Counsel Technical Assistance Project Webinar Series: Budget Advocacy in the 21st Century, Session Three: Persuasive Budget Advocacy - July 30, 2015

Now you have the allies and information, but what are some best practices in persuasive presentation before decision makers for that budget increase? What are some tools you can use to see things your way, beyond reading from your submitted report? This session will help you think outside of the box to help you develop your presentation style and content before presenting your budget proposals to policy makers or potential funders.
Ten Principles: 1, 2, 5, 8


Right to Counsel Technical Assistance Project Webinar Series: Budget Advocacy in the 21st Century, Session Two: Data Collection and Analysis for Budget Advocacy - April 30, 2015

Everyone's talking about data, data, data. But what data should you collect for purposes of budget advocacy? How should you collect this data? How can you creatively use data you are already collecting in support of budget initiatives? This session provide answers to these questions, along with some cost effective ways to collect and analyze data in preparation for budget advocacy.
Ten Principles: 1, 2, 5, 8


Right to Counsel Technical Assistance Project Webinar Series: Budget Advocacy in the 21st Century, Session One: Cultivating Relationships - January 29, 2015

Defender offices that must appeal to local or state legislatures for increased budgets could benefit greatly from allies who will advocate for their cause. With whom should you start cultivating relationships to develop allies? When? What are some strategies to open the door to these relationships? This session will talk about cultivating relationships with likely and unlikely allies, both within and outside of the criminal justice system, in support of defender offices' budget initiatives. Ten Principles: 1, 2, 8



Additional Resources:
Issue Paper: BJA Right to Counsel Technical Assistance Project, Webinar Series Budget Advocacy in 21st Century, Session One: Cultivating Relationships

Additional questions and answers following the Budgeting Advocacy in the 21st Century, Session One Webinar:


NCJA Reframing Public Defense - May 15, 2014

Sponsored by the National Criminal Justice Association (NCJA), the Department of Justice's Access to Justice Initiative (ATJ) and the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA), Reframing Public Defense builds off of the 2013 Strengthening Public Defense: Understanding State and Federal Resources webinar. The third in a series of webinars which seek to help the court and public defense community enhance their competitiveness for local, state and federal funding, Reframing Public Defense will provide practical examples of how public defender offices have changed how they frame their work and built partnerships that enhance their effectiveness and improve justice system outcomes. In addition to a high level discussion on using a systems based perspective to reframe the work of public defenders, attendees will hear how the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy and the San Francisco Public Defender's Office have leveraged their efforts to obtain new state, local, federal and foundation funding.



Gideon Symposium Highlights - March 18, 2013

Highlights from the Gideon Symposium convened at American University on March 18, 2013.



NCJA Strengthening Indigent Defense Understanding State and Federal Resources - January 22, 2013

During this, the 50th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainright, the landmark case that secured the right to counsel in criminal proceedings, the Justice Department is placing renewed emphasis on helping states meet their constitutional obligation to provide effective representation to indigent defendants. This webinar will showcase the Justice Department's efforts to encourage jurisdictions to bring all system stakeholders together and will highlight some of the state and federal resources available to the public defense community. This webinar will focus on funding opportunities available through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program, federal support for public defense initiatives, current opportunities for training and technical assistance and highlight the work of DOJ's Access to Justice Initiative. In addition, attendees will hear from state public defenders about the process of applying for grant funds and showcase strategies for integrating the indigent defense function into criminal justice resource planning. Presenters for this webinar are Melanca Clark, senior counsel with the Department of Justice's Access to Justice Initiative;Edward C. Monahan, director, Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy;Jeanie Vela, office manager, Denver Office of the Colorado State Public Defender;and Jack Cutrone, executive director for the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.



The Right to Counsel: Stands and Solutions in a Downturn Economy

Webinar By: David Carroll
Date: March 8, 2011


Right to Counsel Webinar from BJATraining on Vimeo.