SCCID Conferences and Events
As part of its ongoing mission to ensure high-quality legal representation and indigent defense services for clients, SCCID's South Carolina Indigent Defense Academy (SCIDA) offers continuing education and training throughout the year for public defenders, indigent defense contract attorneys, and staff members across the state. Providing fundamentals for new Public Defenders, Juvenile Defense Training, DSS defense training, and more, SCIDA always offers opportunities to learn and grow. All of SCIDA’s training conferences for attorneys are CLE-certified.
SCCID provides indigent defenders and staff with education and information by a variety of delivery methods: classroom training, webinars, videos, and a resource bank of archived materials.
Below are upcoming educational and professional development events for members. Select an event below for additional information and registration.
Upcoming Conferences and Events
Register Now!
Columbia, SC | Friday
REGISTER NOW! Public Defense 101 is the first step in the Fundamental Advocacy Skills Training (FAST) Course for public defenders with fewer than 3 years' experience as a public defender. This seminar will provide useful information from the practical criminal defense perspective and will help to cultivate skills specifically necessary for effective client representation.
Columbia, SC | Monday
REGISTRATION NOT OPEN YET - Juvenile Defense Workshop provides a valuable training experience for South Carolina Public Defenders and Indigent Defense Contract Attorneys who represent juvenile defendants.
Columbia, SC | Friday
REGISTRATION NOT OPEN YET. Get the last-minute ethics and/or substance abuse/mental health hours you need for CLE compliance. In addition to indigent defense attorneys, this CLE is also open to SC Public-Sector Attorneys - DSS Attorneys, AGs, Solicitors, Appellate Court Staff Attorneys, Children's Law Center Attorneys, etc.
Columbia, SC | Friday
Resource Bank - Archived Conference and Event Materials
Access and Download various archived materials associated with past SC Commission on Indigent Defense Conferences and Events.
Resource Bank ▸
34 new public defenders from across South Carolina and approximately 15 experienced public-defense faculty members participated in the Public Defense 103 Trial Skills Workshop, June 29-July 1, 2026, in Greenville, South Carolina. PD103 is the third part of the Fundamental Advocacy Skills Training Program sponsored by SCCID. which includes over 47 hours of comprehensive client representation and advocacy training for new public defenders.
In 2024-2025, SCCID celebrated a decade of the Fundamental Advocacy Skills Training Program. In November 2014, SCCID launched an intensive, immersive hands-on training program for new public defenders - Public Defense 101 - 103. The program was later expanded to include indigent defense contract attorneys. In 2020, Juvenile Defense 101 became a part of the program to address basics of the unique challenges faced by juvenile defenders. Over the years, hundreds of attorneys have participated in these programs, which continue to expand and improve.
Did you know? Approximately 80-85 percent of all criminal court cases are handled by public defenders.