Membership in the Association shall be available to those members of the Florida Bar who are persons of professional competency, integrity and high ethical standards and who are actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases. Membership in the association shall be available to Private Criminal Defense Attorneys, Federal Public Defenders or Assistant Federal Public Defenders who are members of another State Bar who are persons of professional competency, integrity and high ethical standards and who are actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases in the State of Florida.

All FACDL seminars, apart from the annual Criminal Law Certification Review seminar, are intended to: promote excellence, integrity, and the independence of the criminal defense lawyer while ensuring the protection of the rights of individuals. In that regard, attendance at all seminars (apart from the certification review seminar) is limited to criminal defense attorneys, mitigation specialists, defense investigators and other staff involved in providing criminal defense. Each applicant must be endorsed by one (1) voting member of the Association. FACDL can assist with obtaining a membership sponsor.

Annual membership runs January 1 to December 31. Dues are not prorated. Dues paid by a new member joining before January 1 but after the last (fall) board meeting will cover the remainder of that calendar year and the next.

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For 2025, the following memberships are available (years are calculated from the year of admission to Florida Bar or Bar of another state if not licensed in Florida):

Private Attorney 11+ is $350 (those licensed in 2014 or earlier are in this category for 2025 membership)

Private Attorney 5-10 is $250 (those licensed in 2015-2020 are in this category for 2025 membership)

Private Attorney 0-4 is $150 (those licensed in 2021-2025 are in this category for 2025 membership)

Public Defender 11+ is $250 (those licensed in 2014 or earlier are in this category for 2025 membership)

Public Defender 5-10  is $150 (those licensed in 2015-2020 are in this category for 2025 membership)

Public Defender 0-4 is $100 (those licensed in 2021-2025 are in this category for 2025 membership)

Public Defender rates apply to attorneys who are employed exclusively by the office of a public defender (or retired therefrom), state or federal, and attorneys who are employed exclusively by an office of criminal conflict counsel or capital collateral counsel, or lawyers working for any charitable or non-profit organization such as Innocence Project, Legal Aid, or ACLU.

Affiliate Membership

Affiliate membership in the Association shall be available to persons of integrity and high ethical standards who are not actively engaged as attorneys in the defense of criminal cases, but whose duties and responsibilities are part of, or contribute to, the defense of criminal cases and the goals of the Association.

Life Memberships

All current Life Members are recognized at the Bronze Level and credited with that current level of giving regardless of prior cost of their current Life Membership. If a Life Member desires to achieve a higher level of Life Membership, they will be required to pay the balance of the additional fees in accordance with the yearly schedule below.

Bronze Life Member: $5000 paid at a minimum of $500 per year

Silver Life Member: $10,000 paid at a minimum of $1000 per year

Gold Life Member: $20,000 paid at a minimum of $2500 per year