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!
2025 IDS Forensic Science Education Series – Part 2
IDS and the Mecklenburg Public Defender’s Office offer FREE, regular continuing education to criminal defense and parent attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists across North Carolina.
Inside the State Crime Lab: Forensic Testing Explained
July 24: Drug Chemistry – Forensic Scientist Manager Amanda Venable
Aug. 7: Toxicology – Forensic Scientist Supervisor Danielle O’Connell
Sept. 4: Trace Evidence – Forensic Scientist Manager David Freehling
Sept. 18: Mobile Device Examinations and Audio/Video Examinations – Forensic Scientist II Sterling Hunt
Oct. 2: Forensic Biology – Forensic Scientist Supervisor Wendell Ivory
Nov. 6: Firearms – Forensic Scientist Manager Jennifer Slish
Dec. 4: Latent Evidence – Forensic Scientist Managers Summer Maffett and Karen Morrow
IDS Mental Health and Education Series
Monthly sessions are held on the third Thursday of each month from 1-2 p.m. EST.
Topics Include:
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – July
- Trauma Stewardship for Self and Others – August
- Suicide Prevention – September
- Stress Management for the Holidays – October
- 6 “R”s of Trauma-Informed Care – November
- Perinatal Mental Health – December
- This event has passed.
2023 Winter Criminal Law Webinar
Registration is still open for the 2023 Winter Criminal Law Webinar hosted by the School of Government. Thanks to the support of the Office of Indigent Defense Services and the UNC School of Government, we are pleased to announce that there is no registration fee for indigent defenders who meet the eligibility criteria described below.
The 2023 Winter Criminal Law Update will cover recent criminal law decisions issued by the North Carolina appellate courts and U.S. Supreme Court and highlight significant criminal law legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. School of Government faculty Phil Dixon, Brittany Bromell, Jacqui Greene, and John Rubin will discuss a wide range of issues affecting felony and misdemeanor cases in the North Carolina state courts. The webinar includes a dynamic visual presentation, live audio, and interactive Q & A.
Participants: This webinar is open to public defenders, private attorneys who do indigent criminal defense work, and other court personnel who handle criminal cases.
Schedule: The webinar will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please plan to sign on 15 minutes before the start of the webinar to test your connection.
Registration: Visit https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/criminal-law-webinars-case-and-legislative-updates to register online and find additional information about the webinar. Pre-registration is required. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 4.
Fee: There is no registration fee for IDS state employees. There is no registration fee for private assigned counsel who were paid more than $500 for indigent cases during the 2022-2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023). There is no registration fee for contract attorneys and capital attorneys who handled indigent cases during the 2022-2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2022-June 30, 2023). Private assigned counsel, contract attorneys, and capital attorneys who are eligible to register without charge will be billed by the State Bar for the cost of CLE at $3.50 per hour. The registration fee for other private attorneys and others is $85.00.
Questions Regarding Private Assigned Counsel, Contract Attorney, and Capital Attorney Eligibility: If you have questions regarding your eligibility to attend the program without paying a registration fee, please contact Aaron Gallagher, IDS Fiscal Officer, at [email protected] to determine your eligibility.
CLE Credit & Certification: The webinar offers 1.5 hours of general CLE credit and qualifies for North Carolina State Bar criminal law specialization credit. To receive CLE credit, all participants must pre-register individually, even if the webinar is watched in a group setting. To receive partial credit, please submit your form to John Sherman at [email protected] by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 13.
For More Information: Contact John Sherman, Program Manager, at [email protected].
The School of Government is committed to equality of educational opportunity. The School does not discriminate in offering access to its educational programs and activities on the basis of age, gender, race, color, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. If you have a disability and need accommodation to participate in any School of Government program, please let us know.
