NACDL - Connect. Ask. Share. That's NACDLConnect.

Connect. Ask. Share. That's NACDLConnect.

Criminal defense is demanding work, and the questions don't always come with easy answers. NACDLConnect is where NACDL members turn when they need a quick answer, a second opinion, a brief, or just the reassurance that someone else has been where they are. It's a members-only online community where thousands of defense professionals share strategy, refer cases, exchange resources, and support each other — every day.

Discussion Groups

NACDLConnect is organized around discussion groups — focused communities where you can go deeper on the issues and practice areas that matter most to you. Five groups are currently available:

General

Open conversation across all practice areas and topics. A good starting point for any member.
White Collar

Focused discussion for attorneys working on white collar and corporate criminal defense matters.
Young & New Lawyer

A community for attorneys in the early stages of their careers, navigating the challenges of building a practice and developing as a defense lawyer.
Women in Criminal Defense

A space for women in the defense bar to connect, share resources, and support one another.
Defending Accusations of Sex Crimes

Defending sex crime accusations is demanding and often isolating work. This community is a space to connect with colleagues navigating the same challenges, share resources, and find support from attorneys who understand the work.

Each group maintains an archive of past discussions — a searchable library of member knowledge built up over years that you can tap into anytime.

Stay Connected Your Way

NACDLConnect works the way you do. You can participate through the website or by email — whichever fits your workflow. For each discussion group you join, you control how and when you receive messages:

Real Time

Get an email every time a member posts. Ideal if you want to stay current and respond quickly.
Daily Digest

Receive one daily summary of everything posted in the past 24 hours. A good option if you prefer to catch up on your own schedule.
Weekly Digest

Receive one weekly summary of everything posted in the past seven days. A good option if you want to stay informed without daily inbox traffic.
No Emails

Stay subscribed but pause your inbox notifications. You can still access everything through the website anytime.

You can also post directly by email and include file attachments — no need to log in every time you want to contribute.

Manage your subscriptions

Getting Started

NACDLConnect is available exclusively to NACDL members. To get started, log in to the NACDL website with your email address and password, then head to NACDLConnect.

If you don't know your password, click Reset Password on the login screen and enter your email address. You'll receive a link immediately to set a new one.

Once you're in, take a moment to upload a photo and complete your profile — it helps colleagues put a face to your name and makes the community feel more like the community it is.