Contemporary Public Defender Workload Studies, based upon empirical research, involve a three-phase design that take into account the unique State-level legal frameworks of each organization. 2.3.1 The first phase requires timekeeping by Assistant Public Defenders and Core Staff where their work is tracked in detail, which allows the Contractor to quantify how much time is required to perform specified activities in different classes of cases. 2.3.2 The second phase involves a “time sufficiency” survey of Assistant Public Defenders and Core Staff which asks them whether they believe they have sufficient time to complete the activities tracked in the time-keeping study. The results of this phase are used to identify areas where Assistant Public Defenders and Core Staff believe they are unable to perform their work to a sufficient level of quality. 2.3.3 The third phase convenes a meeting of experts and key stakeholders, commonly known as a Delphi Panel, which is tasked with developing recommendations for the final Workload Standards. Pursuant to Delphi principles, the panelists participate in a series of iterative discussions whereby a consensus is reached on what the Workload limits should be.
