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 Education and Mental Health Series
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.
2026 Higher-Level Felony Defense Course
The 2026 Higher-Level Felony Defense course, co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now open for registration.
COURSE OVERVIEW, DATES, AND LOCATION: The course will be held at the School of Government on Tuesday, September 8 – Thursday, September 10. Topics will include preparing for serious felony cases, eyewitness identifications, habitual felons, self-defense, client relations and rapport, sentencing law and advocacy, and mitigation investigation. The course consists of a mix of lectures and an intensive small-group workshop. Due to the course’s interactive nature, participants must attend all sessions.
You can access the agenda here.
FEE: The registration fee for private attorneys is $375. There is no fee for IDS state employees and private assigned and managed assigned counsel.
REGISTRATION: Register here for Higher-Level Felony Defense.
The registration deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, August 28.
Due to the expected level of interest, the intensive nature of the course, and limits on seating capacity, the course is capped at a total of 30 participants. You must take the following steps BEFORE you can register.
- If you are in a public defender’s office, you must obtain the approval of your Chief Public Defender to register. Because of limited space, each office is allotted one slot.
- If you are a private assigned and managed assigned counsel, you must currently represent appointed felony clients to register.
CLE CREDIT: This course will offer approximately 13 hours of continuing legal education credit, including 1 hour of ethics credit (pending State Bar approval).
HOTEL INFORMATION: Hotel block information will be shared at a later date.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Contact Shannon Simmons, IDS Accounts Payable Supervisor, at [email protected] or (919) 890-1660. Please note that travel reimbursement forms must be submitted to IDS Financial Services by the end of the month following the travel, or reimbursement will be denied.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you have any questions or need further information, contact Program Manager Kayla Fowler at [email protected].
