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.
Current Developments in Criminal Law – Webinar
Registration for the Current Developments in 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.
School of Government faculty member Phil Dixon, Jr. will discuss state and federal appellate court decisions and other recent criminal law developments.
Participants: This webinar is open to public defenders, private attorneys who do indigent criminal defense work, and any others who are interested in criminal law.
Schedule: The webinar will be held on Friday, February 21, 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: 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 Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Fee: There is no registration fee for IDS state employees. There is no registration fee for private assigned counsel, managed assigned counsel, and capital attorneys who were paid more than $500 for indigent cases during the 2023-2024 fiscal year (July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024). The registration fee for private attorneys and others is $90.00.
Questions Regarding Private Assigned Counsel, Managed Assigned Counsel, 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 and Certification: The webinar offers 1.5 hours of general CLE credit and qualifies for NC 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 Karli Wilson at [email protected] by 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
For More Information: Contact Karli Wilson, 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.
