Our Philadelphia criminal appeals lawyer explains how to challenge a conviction in Pennsylvania with the Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA). Ineffective assistance of counsel appeals are not limited only to claims that the attorney did not perform well during the trial.What website do I need to visit to find a guideline for writing a pro se motion for ineffective assistance of counsel ? You will be precluded from asserting ineffective assistance of counsel concerning all proceedings in which you represent yourself. Knowing when to present an IAC claim matters. Should it be the direct appeal or post-conviction stage? The motion raised claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, which usually need to be deferred until after a direct appeal has concluded. On appeal to the Superior Court, Appellant raised these same two claims of in effectiveness. (2) Petitions or Motions. You can make a motion for ineffective assistance of counsel during your trial if you feel that your lawyer is not performing their duties.