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    Leading with Heart and Integrity: Emotional Intelligence and Ethical Leadership in Public Defense

    April 2 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
    Virtual Event Virtual Event

    Tickets

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    Leading with Heart and Integrity - Non-Member Ticket
    Available for public sale to non-member defense professionals and interested parties. Participants must not be working in prosecution, law enforcement, press, or other roles which present a conflict of interest.
    $ 50.00
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    Leading with Heart and Integrity - Member Ticket
    Available only to active members of NAPD.
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    Price

    Free – $50.00

    Description

    Public defenders operate daily in environments that demand empathy, clarity, and ethical judgment. This 90-minute interactive webinar, led by Dr. Pam Love and Dr. Lori James, explores how emotional intelligence (EI) enhances ethical decision-making and leadership effectiveness. Participants will examine how self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skill—core components of EI—directly influence ethical reasoning, professional integrity, and team trust. Attendees will learn strategies to apply The Four Frames along with emotional intelligence to complex ethical dilemmas, strengthen team cohesion, and sustain well-being while leading in high-stress environments.
    Note: The Four Frames of Leadership, developed by Bolman and Deal, are mental models (Structural, Human Resource, Political, Symbolic)

    Learning Objectives

    • Goal 1: Deepen the understanding of emotional intelligence as a leadership competency.
      • Objective 1.1: Identify and describe the five domains of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills).
      • Objective 1.2: Explore how emotional intelligence influences leadership effectiveness in public defense settings and how the Four-Frames Model supports the need for us to develop in this area.
    • Goal 2: Strengthen ethical decision-making through emotional intelligence.
      • Objective 2.1: Examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and ethical reasoning in client advocacy and workplace dynamics.
      • Objective 2.2: Apply an ethical decision-making model that integrates emotional intelligence to resolve leadership and client-centered dilemmas.
    • Goal 3: Discuss ways in which emotionally intelligent leadership practices promote equity and resilience.
      • Objective 3.1: Discuss strategies to manage emotional triggers and promote psychological safety within teams.
      • Objective 3.2: Discuss ways in which personal action planning enhances ethical and emotionally intelligent leadership practices in daily defense work.

    Presenters

    Lori James, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-C 

    Lori James, Ph.D., MSW, LCSW-C is a nationally recognized executive leader, scholar, ordained minister, and sought-after speaker with more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of leadership development, social justice, criminal legal reform, and faith-based advocacy. She currently serves as Executive Director of the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD), where she leads a national organization representing more than 27,000 public defense professionals across the United States and U.S. territories, advancing equity, excellence, and systemic reform in public defense. Dr. James earned a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies (2025). Her dissertation, Chains of Grace: The Church’s Call to Minister to Previously Incarcerated Individuals, examines the theological, pastoral, and psychosocial responsibilities of the Church in responding to mass incarceration and reentry. She holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Morgan State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker–Clinical (LCSW-C) and is pursuing a Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at Tulane University, focusing on women in executive leadership. A certified John Maxwell Trainer, Coach, and Speaker, Dr. James is also the President and CEO of Expand-NOW, LLC, where she provides executive coaching, leadership development, organizational consulting, and faith-informed training to justice-centered organizations nationwide. A recipient of the Gideon Hero Award and recognition as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women (2015, 2025). Dr. James is widely respected for leading with clarity, courage, compassion, and conviction—consistently advancing dignity, restoring humanity, and equipping leaders to serve boldly at the margins.

    Dr. Pamela Love

    President of DP Love Enterprises and founder of the Finishers Network, who is an internationally renowned speaker, author, and coach. With a PhD in social work and a MBA, Dr. Love has dedicated her career to empowering individuals and organizations to achieve their highest potential. She has been on faculty with NAPD for over 5 years.