Youth Defender Advocacy Program 2026
April 30, 2026
Complete Survey Here
Training areas include:
Thursday, April 30 approx. 10:00am–4:45 pm, (subject to change)
A special invitation-only delinquency training that involves large and small group work, plus interactive exercises led by inspiring trainers —
Open to 27 attendees (OCDLA membership is required), one lawyer per judicial district, plus three practitioners from tribes whose administrative offices or tribal courts are located within Oregon. Let your contract administrator know you would like to attend, and call Crystal Herron, 541-686-8716, or email her, cherron@ocdla.org, to let her know. Deadline to register: April 17, 1:00 p.m.
The Gault Center and its partners developed the Youth Defender Advocacy Program (YDAP, formerly known as JTIP: Juvenile Training Immersion Program), a highly specialized, comprehensive trial advocacy training program for youth defense attorneys.
The YDAP was developed to alter the landscape of youth defense by providing the foundation for high-quality, meaningful representation of youth. Intended to serve as the gold standard in youth defense training, YDAP is designed for use in any jurisdiction. The YDAP curriculum provides general law and trial skills, while also being easily customizable to incorporate key state and local statutes, court rules, and caselaw so that each lesson is directly relevant to individual jurisdictions.
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TRAINER BIOS:
Jennifer McGowan is a supervising attorney with Youth, Rights & Justice, Attorneys at Law (YRJ), a non-profit law firm in Portland, Oregon. She has over 18 years of experience representing youth, children and parents in juvenile dependency and delinquency proceedings. She also oversees the SchoolWorks program at YRJ, where she represents clients in school disciplinary and special education cases. She is a certified JTIP trainer through the National Juvenile Defender Center and has developed and presented trainings throughout Oregon and Washington for over 14 years related to her work with young people involved in the juvenile court system.
Keiler Beers is an attorney in Metropolitan Public Defender's Parent | Child Advocacy Division. He specializes in cases involving restorative justice and Spanish-speaking clients, and was a member of the Gault Center's 2023 class of Ambassadors for Racial Justice.
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Program subject to change.
CLE Credit — Pending, General credits in Oregon. For information about other state accreditation, call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
Training areas include:
- Experts (Lesson 29)
- Post Disposition Advocacy (Lesson 37)
Thursday, April 30 approx. 10:00am–4:45 pm, (subject to change)
A special invitation-only delinquency training that involves large and small group work, plus interactive exercises led by inspiring trainers —
- Jennifer McGowan, Youth, Rights & Justice, Portland
- Keiler Beers, Metropolitan Public Defenders Office, Portland
- Nora Van Dusen, Attorney at Law, Portland
Open to 27 attendees (OCDLA membership is required), one lawyer per judicial district, plus three practitioners from tribes whose administrative offices or tribal courts are located within Oregon. Let your contract administrator know you would like to attend, and call Crystal Herron, 541-686-8716, or email her, cherron@ocdla.org, to let her know. Deadline to register: April 17, 1:00 p.m.
The Gault Center and its partners developed the Youth Defender Advocacy Program (YDAP, formerly known as JTIP: Juvenile Training Immersion Program), a highly specialized, comprehensive trial advocacy training program for youth defense attorneys.
The YDAP was developed to alter the landscape of youth defense by providing the foundation for high-quality, meaningful representation of youth. Intended to serve as the gold standard in youth defense training, YDAP is designed for use in any jurisdiction. The YDAP curriculum provides general law and trial skills, while also being easily customizable to incorporate key state and local statutes, court rules, and caselaw so that each lesson is directly relevant to individual jurisdictions.
____________
TRAINER BIOS:
Jennifer McGowan is a supervising attorney with Youth, Rights & Justice, Attorneys at Law (YRJ), a non-profit law firm in Portland, Oregon. She has over 18 years of experience representing youth, children and parents in juvenile dependency and delinquency proceedings. She also oversees the SchoolWorks program at YRJ, where she represents clients in school disciplinary and special education cases. She is a certified JTIP trainer through the National Juvenile Defender Center and has developed and presented trainings throughout Oregon and Washington for over 14 years related to her work with young people involved in the juvenile court system.
Keiler Beers is an attorney in Metropolitan Public Defender's Parent | Child Advocacy Division. He specializes in cases involving restorative justice and Spanish-speaking clients, and was a member of the Gault Center's 2023 class of Ambassadors for Racial Justice.
_____
Program subject to change.
CLE Credit — Pending, General credits in Oregon. For information about other state accreditation, call OCDLA at 541-686-8716.
2026 Youth Defender Advocacy Program
April 30, Agate Beach Inn, Newport
Potential CLE credits: 5.5 general
Program Speakers, Topics and Times subject to change.
Trainers: Jennifer McGowan, Youth Rights & Justice, Portland
Keiler Beers, Metropolitan Public Defenders Office, Portland
Nora Van Dussen, Attorney at Law, Portland
Thursday, April 30
9:00a
Registration
Experts (Lesson 29)
10:00
Use of Experts in Defense Cases
11:00
Challenging the Prosecution’s Expert
11:30
Forensic Exercises
1:00p
Lunch (included)
Post-Disposition Advocacy (Lesson 37)
2:00
Counseling the Client on the Right to Appellate Review
2:15
Role of the Defender Post-Disposition
2:25
Role of the Juvenile Defender When Youth is on Probation
2:35
Revocation of Probation
2:55
Commitment and Placement After Disposition
3:10
Break
3:25
Sealing and Expungement of Juvenile Records
3:35
Forensic Exercises
4:45
Adjourn
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Agate Beach Inn, Newport
Book your room by April 6, 2026
Call 541-265-9411, mention that you are with the OCDLA Juvenile Conference
$136 hillside, 1 king or 2 queen beds
$176 ocean view, 1 king or 2 queen beds
Parking:
Free parking
Pet fees:
We are pet friendly and allow up to two dogs in a rented room. The size limit for any one dog shall be 80 pounds. Other pet types (e.g. cats) may be allowed upon the hotel’s approval prior to arrival. The pet friendly rate is $40 per day.
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Agate Beach Inn restaurant note:
The Seaglass Bistro and Lounge is open for breakfast, 7:30–10:30 a.m. The Seaglass Bistro is NOT open for lunch. The lounge opens at 4:00 p.m. with a limited menu, and the Bistro and Lounge is open for dinner, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Book your room by April 6, 2026
Call 541-265-9411, mention that you are with the OCDLA Juvenile Conference
$136 hillside, 1 king or 2 queen beds
$176 ocean view, 1 king or 2 queen beds
Parking:
Free parking
Pet fees:
We are pet friendly and allow up to two dogs in a rented room. The size limit for any one dog shall be 80 pounds. Other pet types (e.g. cats) may be allowed upon the hotel’s approval prior to arrival. The pet friendly rate is $40 per day.
___
Agate Beach Inn restaurant note:
The Seaglass Bistro and Lounge is open for breakfast, 7:30–10:30 a.m. The Seaglass Bistro is NOT open for lunch. The lounge opens at 4:00 p.m. with a limited menu, and the Bistro and Lounge is open for dinner, 5:00–9:00 p.m.
Let your contract administrator know you would like to attend, and call Crystal Herron, 541-686-8716, or email her, cherron@ocdla.org, to let her know.