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.
2026 Defender Trial School
The Defender Trial School, co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the North Carolina 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 Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17. Participants will use their own non-capital cases to develop a cohesive theory of defense at trial and apply that theory through all stages of a criminal trial, including voir dire, opening and closing arguments, and direct and cross-examination. Unlike other courses, you need to attend all the sessions. The sessions build on one another, and by the end of the course, you will have developed a comprehensive strategy for trying your case.
The Defender Trial School is open to public defenders and, space permitting, private attorneys who perform a significant amount of appointed work. Because space is limited, public defenders must receive approval from their Chief Public Defender prior to registering. You do not need to send us anything formal from your chief defender.
You can access the agenda here.
BRING YOUR OWN CASE
This course differs from others that you may have attended. Although you will be working from a hypothetical case in the plenary sessions, you will spend most of your time in small groups working on your own cases. While misdemeanor cases are permitted, felonies are preferred. You can access the Guide for Participants for more information on the type of case you need to bring. If your application for the course is accepted, submit the Case Summary form by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 24 to Bob Burke at [email protected].
FEE: The registration fee for private assigned and managed assigned counsel is $900. There is no fee for IDS state employees.
SCHOLARSHIPS: A limited number of scholarships are available for private assigned and managed assigned counsel. If you are interested in applying, complete the scholarship application as soon as possible. If you receive a scholarship, the registration fee is waived. The scholarship deadline is 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 10. Please refer to the scholarship website for additional information.
REGISTRATION: Registration here for the Defender Trial School. The registration deadline is 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 17. Registration for eligible persons is on a first-come, first-served basis, and all spots may be taken before the deadline.
After you submit your application, be on the lookout for three emails: the first will confirm that you successfully submitted your application; the second and third will be sent at the same time, one to confirm that your application has been approved and the other, your statement/invoice showing your balance due for the registration fee, if applicable.
Note that the registration system requires one unique email address per profile created, so each person from your office who plans to attend must register separately using an individual email address. Since we correspond with participants primarily through email, ensure your email address is current.
CLE CREDIT: This course will offer up to 29.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit, including 1 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 (1742 Fordham Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC) for $124 plus tax. The hotel reservation deadline is Friday, June 12. To reserve a room, please refer to the hotel’s website here
or call the hotel at (984) 291-7200 and ask for room block “90V” or “Defender Trial School.”
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Contact Shannon Simmons, IDS Accounts Payable Supervisor, at [email protected] or (919) 890-1660. IDS shall directly reimburse the travel expenses of all IDS employees who attend education courses as participants or invited speakers in accordance with State and IDS rules and regulations governing such reimbursements. 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].
