The Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL) is an organization for Florida criminal defense lawyers across the state. Their mission is to be the unified voice of an inclusive criminal defense community; to promote excellence in the practice of criminal law; to improve the criminal justice system at all levels; to ensure the integrity and independence of the criminal defense lawyer; and to promote the protection of individual rights.

The organization provides a variety of opportunities to lawyers across the state. They allow members to sharpen their skills by attending specialized criminal defense seminars. These seminars are approved as a source of CLE credits that are required by the Florida Bar Association. 

Lawyers who are members can expand their knowledge of criminal defense through these seminars or by reading The Florida Defender, the quarterly magazine published by the FACDL. It covers the latest legal developments in the criminal defense world including a detailed report of the most recent changes to case law.

This organization also gives members the ability to tap into vast resources provided by a network of more than 1,900 criminal defense lawyers across the state of Florida. This allows for an exchange of ideas that help everyone. It’s particularly useful if a new, young lawyer has a question. This network allows the young lawyers to contact their more experienced criminal defense comrades and become better lawyers faster.

The seminars offered by the FACDL cover a variety of topics and are a respected resource for continuing legal education. There is often an annual convention which allows lawyers to stay in touch with their fellow criminal defense lawyers across the state.