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.
Behind the Bruises: A Medical Perspective on Strangulation in Legal Cases
The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office is hosting a free to attend presentation on Behind the Bruises: A Medical Perspective on Strangulation in Legal Cases.
When: November 7, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.
This CLE is approved for 1 “other” hour. If you need CLE credit, you must either (1) sign in when you arrive, (2) complete the post-CLE survey after you leave the webinar or (3) email your name, NC State Bar # and how long you attended, to Anthony Monaghan by Wednesday November 12.
All online attendance is confirmed by what Webex provides.
Please register here: Register for November 7th
Where: Anyplace you have internet or the 4th floor conference room of the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office (720 E 4th St Charlotte, take elevator to 4th floor and conference room is on your left.)
What: This session, led by an experienced board-certified physician and medical expert witness, will explore the clinical realities of strangulation, including key injury patterns, mechanisms of harm, delayed presentations, and documentation standards. Attendees will gain insight into how medical findings support or challenge legal arguments in both criminal and civil cases. Ideal for attorneys handling domestic violence, assault, wrongful death claims, and many other injury-related cases.
Who: Dr. Raj V. Patel, MD, FACEP, FAAEM is a board-certified physician with over 26,000 hours of clinical experience, including leadership roles as Medical Director of multiple facilities and academic appointments as a Clinical Assistant Professor. He has reviewed thousands of patient cases for quality of care and serves as a medical expert witness in both civil and criminal matters. Dr. Patel specializes in translating complex medical findings into clear, actionable insights for attorneys and juries.
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
