In-Person Training Event Description
The 2026 Federal Defender Investigator and Paralegal Seminar (FDIPS) will take place Tuesday, August 4, through Thursday, August 6, 2026, in San Francisco, California.
This two-and-a-half-day seminar will cover a wide range of topics specifically targeted toward investigators, paralegals, and other staff who contribute to defending federal criminal cases. A mix of plenary and concurrent breakout sessions will address areas such as online investigation, BOP issues, sentencing mitigation, mental health, document management and analysis, and offense-specific tips for building a powerful defense. Also, this program will include presentations on issues relevant to all members of the defense team including mitigation specialists and social workers. Finally, this seminar will incorporate presentations centered on interpreters and those who perform interpreter duties in their offices or cases, as well as paralegals and investigators who work with bi-lingual clients and staff.
As with all DSOTD programs, there is no registration fee. However, this seminar is designed for, and attendance is limited to, federal defender staff. CLE was not sought for this program, however you can reach to the DSO staff contact for a certificate of attendance.
To ensure that every federal defender office has a fair opportunity to participate, registration for this year's program will be managed through an office allocation system. Every office will receive a designated number of attendance slots, and each Federal Defender will determine which members of their office will attend. If you are interested in attending, please contact your Federal Defender for additional information about your Office’s selection process.
We look forward to gathering in San Francisco and for the opportunity to learn from one another and reconnect with colleagues from across the system.
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