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.
2025 Winter Criminal Law Webinar for Indigent Defenders
Registration for the Winter Criminal Law Webinar is now open. 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.
2025_Winter Criminal Law Update_Agenda
The 2025 Winter Criminal Law Webinar will cover recent criminal law decisions issued by the North Carolina appellate courts and highlight significant criminal law legislation enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly. School of Government faculty Phil Dixon, Brittany Bromell, and Daniel Spiegel 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 5, 2025, 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: Register here for the Winter Criminal Law Webinar. Pre-registration is required. The deadline is 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 1.
Fee: There is no registration fee for IDS state employees. There is no registration fee for private assigned counsel who do trial or appellate work, managed assigned counsel, or capital attorneys who were paid more than $500 for indigent cases during the 2024-2025 fiscal year (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). The registration fee for private attorneys and others is $95.00.
Questions Regarding Private Assigned Counsel and Managed Assigned Counsel 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 10.
For More Information: Contact John Sherman, Program Manager, at [email protected].
