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
Mitigation for the Noncapital Client – A Series!
The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office and the Federal Defender for the Western District of North Carolina are hosting a FREE-to-attend Mitigation for the Non-Capital Client Series, either in person at the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office or through Webex.
Each session is 90 minutes (from 12:30-2pm) and is approved for 1.5 hours of other CLE credit. If you need CLE credit, you must sign in if attending in person or if attending online, you either need to complete the post-CLE survey or email me your name, NC State Bar # and how long you attended by the Wednesday after the presentation.
The series will offer tips and suggestions to answer the below questions:
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- How did our client get in this position with the charges they are facing? (Sessions 1 and 2)
- Can science, through an expert or experts, help explain how our client got into this position and is there is a treatment plan available? (Session 3)
- What can be done to prevent this from happening again by developing a probation, prison and/or reentry plan and who will hold client accountable to this plan? (Session 4)
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- The final two sessions (Sessions 5 and 6) will offer suggestions on how to create a compelling mitigation presentation for the decision maker.
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6/27/25: Client and Collateral Interviewing
7/25/25: Record Collection, Organization and Finding Mitigation in Unusual Places
8/29/25: Working with Experts
9/26/25: Developing the Client’s Plan for the Future
10/24/25 Creating the Mitigation Package
11/21/25: Tips to Create a Compelling Mitigation Presentation
Where: Anyplace you have internet or the 4th floor conference room of the Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office (720 E 4th St Charlotte; take elevator to 4th floor and conference room is on left). You may log on or enter the conference room by 12:15.
The below link will register you for the entire series. No confirmation email will be sent, so please note the dates above for each session. Everyone who registers will receive a link to join the live webcast for all sessions the day before the schedule session. You do not need to attend all sessions.
*Register for Mitigation for the Non-Capital Client CLE Series*
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
