How to Get on the SPD Lawyer List in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin state public defender (SPD) represents individuals who have been arrested and cannot afford an attorney. In some cases, an attorney who works for the SPD cannot represent the defendant because of a conflict of interest, such as when co-defendants stand accused. When a conflict arises, the case is given to a private attorney who is on a list, maintained by the SPD, of attorneys who are certified to take appointed cases.
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Instructions
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Obtain the certification applications. Download the certification applications from the Wisconsin SPD Assigned Counsel Division's ACD Certification Page (see Resources). All applicants must download the General Certification Application (see Resources) and any additional applications for the types of cases for which they wish to be certified, such as misdemeanors, felonies, juvenile or appellate.
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Complete the General Certification Application form. This form requires you to provide your name, office and home addresses, office phone and fax numbers, your email address, your Wisconsin State Bar identification number and your Social Security or federal Employer Identification Number. You must also provide information regarding your practice history, such as whether you have had a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel brought against you, or have been convicted of a crime or faced disciplinary action.
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Complete the case-specific certification application. Complete the required application or applications by reviewing them and checking off the specific types of cases for which you are qualified. In some instances, such as for juvenile delinquency cases or parole revocation cases, you must take additional continuing legal education courses approved by the SPD.
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Complete the applicable training form or forms. If you are applying to be certified for any trial-level cases, you must complete the Trial Litigation/Training Form, and if you are applying for appellate certification, you must complete the Appellate Litigation/Training Form. Each form requires you to provide the client's name and the case number. The trial form requires you to state the case type, and the appellate form requires you to list the date the case was completed. You must also provide the dates on which any required training courses were completed, if applicable.
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Mail the forms to the SPD. The forms must be mailed to Assigned Counsel Division, Wisconsin State Public Defender, P.O. Box 7923, Madison, WI 53707-7923.
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References
Resources
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