Member FAQ

Member Frequently Asked Questions

General

Q: Who is eligible to join NAPD?

A: Membership is open to all members of the public defense community, including attorneys, investigators, social workers, paralegals, administrative staff, and students; as well as those in research or advocacy organizations which directly support public defense and criminal justice reform. We welcome anyone working in service to the mission of providing high-quality representation to indigent clients.

Q: If I change roles during my active membership period, what do I do about my membership?

A: We understand that careers evolve. To protect the integrity of our community and the safety of all members, we ask that you promptly discontinue your NAPD membership if you become an employed or otherwise meaningfully engaged in any of the following workplaces: a prosecutor’s office, the judiciary, a police department, a field completely unrelated to public defense, or any other position which may represent a conflict of interest. Please reach out to the NAPD team on our Help Desk for assistance end-dating your membership account.

Q: I am not a member of NAPD.  Can I still attend NAPD events?

A: NAPD welcomes non-member defenders to its trainings and programs, providing a non-member registration rate for nearly all events. However, to sign up as a non-member you will still need to create an account! To create your non-member account, click here. Once you have logged in, you will be able to view and purchase tickets at eligible events at the non-member rate. 

Q: Does NAPD offer CLE (Continuing Legal Education) or CEU credits?

A: Accreditation status of conference events is noted on the event page.   While many of our webinars are eligible, we do not have the resources to obtain advanced accreditation for each session; participants must follow self-submission guidelines to obtain credit.  Please check the specific event page for credit details.

Q: Is it possible to get a refund on an NAPD Event that I can no longer attend?

A: Our ability to offer a full or partial refund or credit is dependent on a number of factors, in order to balance the needs of our members with the fiscal responsibility of the association. You can read our full Event Refund & Credit Policy by clicking here. 

Q: How do I access the MyGideon Resource Library?

A: Once you are logged into your member account, you can access MyGideon by selecting Online Communities from the Engage drop-down menu and then choosing Browse – Resource Libraries from the top menu bar , or using the direct link here. 

Q: What is the difference between the NAPD Public Resource Library and the NAPD MyGideon Resource Library?

A: The Public Resource Library is home to NAPD’s public-facing position statements, policy papers, ethics opinions, amicus briefs, and other materials that we intend for impact beyond NAPD membership. MyGideon, on the other hand, is members-only and is home to exclusive member resources and our archive of recorded past webinars and conference sessions. 

Organizational Membership

Q: My office has an active membership – how do I join it? OR, I am a roster manager for my office – how do I make changes?

A: Individual users seeking to join an existing org membership, or organizations seeking to make changes to their roster can both find instructions in our NAPD Membership Portal Guide! Click here to view. 

Q: What is the “100% Participation” rule for organizations?

A: To provide the most equitable and sustainable pricing, our organizational rates are predicated on the entire staff joining. This ensures that every member of the defense team—not just attorneys—has access to the same high-level resources.

Q: How do we set up a private Talent LMS branch for our office?

A: Private LMS branches are a premium service for organizational members. These are scoped based on the size of your office and your specific training needs. Please submit an inquiry to our Technical Assistance team to schedule a consultation.

Specialized Sections & Add-ons

Q: Can I join the NAFD Section for federal defenders without an NAPD membership?

A: No. Sections are specialized communities within the larger NAPD framework. You must have an active Individual or Organizational membership to join a specific section.

Account & Billing

Q: When does my membership expire?

A: NAPD memberships are annual and renew on the anniversary of your join date. You can check your status and renewal date anytime in your “Member Profile” which is the first page you’re brought to when you log in.

Q: Can I pay for my membership via check or purchase order?

A: While we prefer online payments for faster processing, we do accept checks and POs—particularly for large organizations. Please select the “Invoice Me” option during checkout or contact us for billing assistance.

Q: Is my membership tax-deductible?

A: NAPD is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. Membership dues are generally not deductible as a charitable contribution but may be deductible as a business expense. Please consult with your tax professional.

Getting Involved

Q: What happened to the NAPD listservs?

A: As of June 1st 2026, NAPD has retired its network of listservs offered through Groups IO and has transitioned to a new Online Communities platform hosted by Higher Logic. This members-only platform can be accessed via the Online Communities selection in the Engage dropdown on our website, or by clicking here. You must be logged in to access the communities! Choose which communities you would like to join in the Groups tab of your member profile upon logging in to the site. 

Q: I prefer participating in NAPD communities via email. Is that still possible?

A: Yes it is! Once you’ve logged in and accessed the Online Communities platform, you will have the option to configure your email notification settings for each community you have joined. If you choose to receive email notifications of new posts, you will have the ability to reply to posts directly via email. 

Q: How can I contribute trainings/blog posts/resources/etc to the NAPD community?

A: We are always looking for trainers, writers, resource contributors, and mentors! Look out for calls to get involved from the NAPD team within our Online Communities space, or contact us if you’d like to offer your contribution!