Whatcom County Regional Training: Strategies for Effective Representation

Whatcom County Regional Training: Strategies for Effective Representation

A Washington State Office of Public Defense regional training co-sponsored by the Whatcom County Public Defense

By WA State Office of Public Defense

Date and time

Friday, May 16 · 9:30am - 4pm PDT

Location

WECU Bellingham Education Center

511 East Holly Street Bellingham, WA 98225

About this event

  • Event lasts 6 hours 30 minutes

Develop Skills to Improve Your Communication Skills!


CLE Credits:

1 Ethics Credit
1 Law and Legal Credits
2 Other


Agenda Highlights:

9:30 AM | Opening Remarks
Angela Colaiuta & Travis Stearns

10:00 AM | Ethical Advocacy: A Trauma-Informed Approach
Jacob Schmitt, Just Us Solutions

  • Understand trauma's impact on clients.
  • Practice ethical, trauma-sensitive communication.

11:00 AM | Coffee & Networking Break

11:15 AM | Mitigation Matters: Leveraging Specialists for Better Outcomes Julie Armijo, M.S. Forensic Psychology, Lotus Mitigation

  • Identify key mitigation evidence.
  • Craft compelling client narratives.
  • Influence sentencing outcomes effectively.

12:15 PM | Lunch Break

1:30 PM | Building Bridges: A Community-Centered Defense
Angela Colaiuta, Travis Stearns

  • Connect with local service providers.
  • Explore resources for mental health, housing, and legal aid.
  • Build partnerships to improve case outcomes.

3:30 PM | Closing Reflections
Angela Colaiuta & Travis Stearns

Organized by

WA State Office of Public Defense

Mission: Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.

Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable, client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.

Values: Justice * Service * Equity * Excellence