Upcoming Events
WDA Defenders Rising Summer Meet Up Series: Careers and Practice Areas in Public Defense
Save these Dates! WDA is hosting a summer Meet-Up Series geared to people interested in or curious about careers in public defense. Theis is perfect for law students, undergrad students, interns/externs working in public defense, civil legal aid, social justice and/or other civil rights work. WDA will organize and present information about the different practice areas in public defense and the different types of careers public defenders have. Many people only know about our work in the criminal courts, but there is so much more!
These virtual meet-ups will take place on Thursdays in July and August over the lunch hour on Zoom (link below).
Dates/Content:
- Thursday July 2, 2026, from 12:00-1:00: Felony, Misdemeanor and Juvenile Defense
- Thursday July 9, 2026, from 12:00-1:00: Incarcerated Parents Project; Appellate Defense
- Thursday July 16, 2026, from 12:00-1:00: What Incarcerated Parents Need to Know; Civil Commitment: Involuntary Treatment Act (ITA)
- Thursday July 23, 2026, from 12:00-1:00: “Crimmigration” (Criminal + Immigration Defense)
- Thursday July 30, 2026, from 12:00-1:00: Release from Civil Commitments Under RCW 10.77 (Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity/NGRI) and RCW 71.09 (Prior Violent Sex Offense)
- Thursday Aug 6, 2026, from 12:00-1:00: Family Defense (Dependency)
To join, please visit this link!
Defenders Rising: Engaging New Generations of Public Defenders
Washington Defender Association, in partnership with Gonzaga School of Law, Seattle University School of Law, and the University of Washington School of Law, created the Defenders Rising project in 2019. The goal of Defenders Rising is three fold: to cultivate the next generation of public defenders while they are in law school, to increase diversity in the indigent defense bar, and to foster relationships between future defenders and defender offices across the state.
How to Get Engaged:
- Join our Email List! Email [email protected] with title, “Defender Rising” to be added. This is the best way to learn about all the latest events such as panels with defender offices.
- Law students can join WDA—Student memberships are just $20/year. This will unlock all Continuing Education Classes, including our annual Leadership Conference, practice advisories and briefs in a variety of areas of criminal, family defense, and juvenile defense, and legislative work that shapes the laws of Washington State. Email Scott Shoemaker to join as a student member.
- Email [email protected] with title, “Defender Rising/Extern or Intern Positions” find out about which offices have internship or externship opportunities.
- Join us at a training or networking event! WDA hosts webinars, conferences, and various other training programs that you are encouraged to attend. We also will be hosting Defenders Rising specific events, including panels with public defender offices across the state.
Click here to access the Guide to Washington Public Defender Offices- including information about Internships and Externships.