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.
2024 Misdemeanor Defender Training
Registration for the 2024 Misdemeanor Defender Training, co-sponsored by the School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now available at https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/misdemeanor-defender-training.
Agenda – 2024 Misdemeanor Defender Training
Program: This course is an introductory program for attorneys new to misdemeanor cases. Sessions focus on stops and searches, impaired driving, ethical issues in district court, sentencing and jail credit, probation violations, and other matters in misdemeanor cases. The program also provides instruction on client interviewing, negotiation, and trial skills, including a small group workshop on trial skills.
Participants: This training is for public defenders, private assigned and managed assigned counsel who perform a significant amount of appointed work in district court.
Location, Dates, and Times: The agenda can be found on the course page. This training will be held from Tuesday, November 12 through Friday, November 15 at the School of Government.
Registration: To register and find other program information, including our cancellation and refund policy, visit https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/misdemeanor-defender-training. The registration deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1. If you register, please plan on attending all sessions.
Note that you must create a new account when registering for the first time in the system. If you encounter any registration issues, explore our list of frequently asked questions. You may also contact [email protected] or call 919-966-4414.
Fee: The registration fee for private assigned and managed assigned counsel is $525, which includes all materials, parking, breaks, and lunches. There is no fee for IDS state employees.
A limited number of scholarships are available for private assigned and managed assigned counsel. If you are interested in applying, click here to complete the scholarship application. You must apply and receive approval for a scholarship before registering. Please apply as soon as possible. Scholarships are awarded no later than two weeks after application submission. The scholarship application deadline is Friday, October 25.
CLE: This training will offer approximately 21.75 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit, including one hour of ethics, and qualifies for NC State Bar criminal law specialization credit, pending State Bar approval.
Hotel Information: A block of rooms is available at the Tru by Hilton Chapel Hill hotel (1742 Fordham Blvd Chapel Hill, NC ) for $112 plus tax. This rate includes a complimentary breakfast, parking, and free wi-fi. To reserve a room, book here and use code “MDT” or call the hotel at 984-291-7200 and ask for the Misdemeanor Defender Training room block. The reservation deadline is Saturday, October 12, 2024.
Additional Information: We look forward to seeing you in November. If you have any questions or would like further information, contact Program Manager Kayla Fowler at [email protected]. If you have questions regarding the content, contact Danny Spiegel, Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government, 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 race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s 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.
