Membership Standards

Our experience has proved to us time and again that a defense lawyer’s demonstrated readiness to try a case—however infrequently trials actually occur—has a measurable impact on plea negotiations and ultimate outcomes. For non-citizen clients, that incremental leverage can be the difference between a disposition that preserves lawful status and one that triggers removal proceedings.

 

Accordingly, FNCDN asks each member to document at least two jury trials in the past three years (or provide a cogent explanation, such as an appellate docket or pandemic-related slowdowns). This modest threshold signals genuine litigation capability without excluding smaller or specialty practices. It also reassures our statewide partners—and, ultimately, our clients—that any recommendation to accept a plea is grounded in strategic judgment, not administrative convenience.

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By maintaining this standard, the Network fosters a culture of thorough case analysis, informed risk assessment, and ethically sound advocacy—values that are essential when immigration consequences amplify the stakes of even minor criminal allegations. If those principles align with your practice philosophy, please reach out to us. We would love to hear from you.