Black Public Defender Association

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Black Public Defender Association

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A national network of Black public defenders building power, advancing justice, and fighting for the communities we serve.

10/16/2026

❓ Thinking about applying to the 2027 Law School Fellowship but have questions? We've got you.

Here are a few things applicants ask us most, including who's eligible, how compensation works, and what you'll need to apply. ⚖️

Quick clarification: this fellowship is open to all law students passionate about public defense, not just Black law students. BPDA is committed to building a diverse public defense community and welcomes applicants from every background.

📝 Applications are open now through October 30 — don't wait to apply!
🗓️ Want to learn more first? Join our "Meet the Host Sites" session on October 21.

🔗 Full FAQ + application + register for info session: https://blackdefender.org/fellowship-programs/law-school-fellowship/

10/14/2026

🎙️ Last week, BPDA's Alaina Bloodworth and 2026 Law School Fellow Steven McCalman visited Atlanta's John Marshall Law School to talk all things Law School Fellowship.

Alaina shared the heart behind BPDA and what the fellowship offers law students pursuing a career in public defense, while Steven gave students a firsthand account of his summer fellowship experience with the Stevens County Office of Public Defense in Washington State.

A huge thank you to Jonathan Rapping — founder and president of Gideon's Promise and professor of law at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School — for helping bring this conversation to campus.

Inspired? Here's how to get involved:
🗓️ Join our "Meet the Host Sites" info session on October 21 to learn more about the 2027 Fellowship
📝 Apply now — https://blackdefender.org/law-school-fellowship/

10/12/2026

Meet the committee behind the 2026 BPDA Winter Conference!

Bringing "Leading with Power, Defending our Communities" to life takes a team — and we're proud to introduce the committee members helping shape this inaugural virtual gathering:

🔹 Kelli Howard, Administrative Officer, Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania
🔹 Guy Lang, Director of Youth Partnerships and Community Engagement, Defender Association of Philadelphia
🔹 Christina Tavares, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Defender Association of Philadelphia
🔹 Joshua White, Trial Attorney, New York County Defender Services

Their work behind the scenes is helping build a conference centered on the people doing public defense every day, and we can't wait for you to be part of it.
🔗 Register now: https://blackdefender.org/winter-conference/

10/09/2026

⏰ Early bird registration ends soon!

Lock in your spot for the 2026 BPDA Winter Conference at the lowest rate before early bird pricing goes away.

This is your chance to join a national community of public defenders for a day of reflection, learning, and connection, all virtually.

🗓️ Early bird ends on October 11
🔗 Register now: https://blackdefender.org/winter-conference/

Don't wait — we'll see you there!

10/08/2026

🚨 Applications for the 2027 BPDA Law School Summer Fellowship are open until October 30!

2027 fellows will train with some of the nation’s leading public defender offices, including host sites from New York to California and beyond.

💼 Atlanta Office of the Public Defender
💼 The Bronx Defenders
💼 Brooklyn Defender Services
💼 Colorado Office of the State Public Defender
💼 Committee for Public Counsel Services
💼 Contra Costa Public Defender
💼 Defender Association of Philadelphia
💼 Federal Public Defender, District of Oregon
💼 Kalamazoo Defender
💼 King County Department of Public Defense
💼 Legal Aid Society
💼 Los Angeles County Public Defender
💼 Minnesota Board of Public Defense
💼 Orleans Public Defenders
💼 Panhandle Area Public Defender Office
💼 Virginia Indigent Defense Commission
💼 Washington State Office of Public Defense

Want to meet them? Join us on October 21 for our upcoming "Meet Your Hosts" info session, where you’ll hear directly from the participating public defender offices, learn about available fellowship placements, and hear firsthand from former BPDA fellows about their experience.

🔗 Learn more about the fellowship and RSVP for the info session: https://blackdefender.org/law-school-fellowship/

10/05/2026

🎉 Thank you, Southern University Law Center!

Back in September, Alaina and our BPDA 2026 Law School Fellows joined SULC students for an informational session on what it's really like to pursue a career in public defense. They shared insights on the fellowship experience, day-to-day work, and advice for students exploring this path.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and brought great questions to the table. We loved connecting with SULC's future defenders.

📣 Ready to take the next step? Our 2027 Law School Fellowship is open now — but only until October 30.

👉🏿 Apply today: https://blackdefender.org/law-school-fellowship/

10/01/2026

🗣️ Missed our first Defender Talk? Here's what went down ↓

Last month, Kasandra Washington (Founder/CEO of FFO Investigations) joined defenders across the network for "Code of Respect: Cultural Competence in the Trenches of Public Defense" — a real, unfiltered conversation about what cultural competence actually looks like in the field: in a first jail visit, a hesitant witness, the split-second read of intent vs. impact.

Defenders walked away with practical tools for interviews and community engagement — and a few even connected on next steps together.

Don't miss the next one on October 14 with JoEllyn Jones (Attorney at the Law Office of JoEllyn L. Jones) and Porsha-Shaf’on Venable (Deputy Director of The Juror Project & BPDA Board Member).

📩 Sign up for our newsletter so you're first to know when registration opens for Defender Talk #2: https://buff.ly/HRIMA38

09/30/2026

📢 Applying to the 2027 Law School Fellowship? Don't miss this.

Join us virtually on October 21 at 5 PM EST for "Meet the Host Sites" — an opportunity for prospective applicants to connect directly with representatives from participating public defender offices, learn about available fellowship placements, and hear firsthand from former BPDA fellows about their experience. ⚖️

Come with your questions — this is the session to get them answered.

🔗 Register here: https://buff.ly/LICSXYm

⏳ And a reminder: the 2027 Fellowship application is open now through October 30 — so don't wait to apply.

09/23/2026

📣 Registration is officially open!

The 2026 BPDA Winter Conference is almost here, and your seat is waiting.

This year's theme, Leading with Power, Defending our Communities, brings our national community of public defenders together to reflect, learn, and connect — all from wherever you are.

Whether you're an attorney, social worker, investigator, paralegal, law professor, or community partner in this work, there's a track and a session for you.

🗓️ December 10-11
📍 Virtual
🔗 Register now: https://blackdefender.org/winter-conference/

We'll see you there. ➡️

09/21/2026

Mark your calendars! Here's the full timeline for the 2027 BPDA Law School Fellowship application process:

📅 October 21 — Meet Your Host Site (5pm EST)
📅 October 30 — Applications close (11:59pm EST)
📅 November 2–30 — Application review, interviews, and selections
📅 December 5 — Final fellow selections announced

🔖 Save this post to stay on track and learn more, or start your application here: bpda.blackdefender.org/3TmgKpX

Address

1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 500
Washington D.C., DC
20006

Website

http://blackdefender.org/

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Thelma D. Jones Breast Cancer Fund
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