Monthly Attorney Orientation
For Lawyers who are New to Indigent Defense
Beginning August 1, IDS staff will provide orientation for new attorneys on the first Friday of each month from 1-2 p.m.
Topics will include a guided tour of the IDS website, information on training and CLE opportunities, access to wellness resources and more. You will also be able to connect with other defense attorneys for future collaboration!
2026 IDS Forensic Science Education Series
IDS and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office provide regular continuing education to dozens of NC criminal defense and parent attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists who attend the IDS Forensic Science Education Series.
In 2026, we will offer monthly 90-minute webinars on various aspects of forensic evidence. These webinars will take place typically at 12:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month. Click here to view the 2026 Schedule.
The first six sessions of 2026 will focus on understanding and advocating for neurodivergent clients.
- This event has passed.
Free-to-attend Ethics Hour Opportunity
The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office is hosting a free-to-attend video replay presentation of Ethical Conflicts for the Criminal Defense Attorney. This CLE is for 1 ethics hour. If you need CLE credit, you must complete the post-CLE survey or email me your name, NC State Bar # and how long you attended. All attendance will be confirmed by the attendance Webex provides. Everyone who registers will receive an email with instructions to join sometime after noon on 2/20/25. Please register below by 2/20/25 at noon:
Click here to Register for 2/21/25 CLE
When: February 21, 2025 at 12:30p.m. **You may log on by 12:15 p.m.
Where: Anyplace you have internet.
What: The speaker will discuss the ethical conflict Rules 1.7, 1.9, 1.10, and 1.19 for when a lawyer, particularly a criminal defense lawyer, has a conflict and when conflict waivers are permitted.
Who: Nichole P. McLaughlin has been employed as a staff attorney with the North Carolina State Bar since June 2004. Originally from New Jersey, she graduated from Drew University with a B.A. in English. She obtained her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. As Assistant Ethics Counsel, she gives informal ethics advice to lawyers about their own future conduct via telephone or email, prepares formal ethics opinions, and advises the Ethics Committee. Nichole is also the Judicial District Bar Liaison, a role created to improve communication between the State Bar and judicial district bars. Nichole has also taught Professional Responsibility at North Carolina Central School of Law. Prior to joining the Bar, she was in private practice for five years with Donaldson & Black, P.A. in Greensboro, and handled asbestos workers’ comp cases. In 2021, Nichole became an Adjunct Professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law and teaches Professional Responsibility with a Technology Focus.
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
