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!

Click HERE to sign up.

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

Click HERE to sign up.

IDS Mental Health and Education Series

Monthly sessions are held on the third Thursday of each month from 1-2 p.m. EST.

Click HERE to sign up.

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
  • Introduction to Wymore Jury Selection 2025

    Durham County Courthouse NC, United States

    The Office of the Capital Defender will have a FREE one day seminar on Wymore Jury Selection Friday, November 7, 2025 in Durham, North Carolina. The seminar will be in room #9000 on the ninth floor of the Durham County Courthouse. The seminar is free and allows 5 general credit hours with the NC State […]

  • Behind the Bruises: A Medical Perspective on Strangulation in Legal Cases

    Mecklenburg Public Defender's Office 720 E 4th Street, Charlotte, NC, United States

    The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office is hosting a free to attend presentation on Behind the Bruises: A Medical Perspective on Strangulation in Legal Cases. When: November 7, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. This CLE is approved for 1 "other" hour. If you need CLE credit, you must either (1) sign in when you arrive, (2) […]

  • 2025 Misdemeanor Training

    UNC School of Government 400 South Rd., Chapel Hill, United States

    The 2025 Misdemeanor Defender Training, co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now open.   PROGRAM OVERVIEW, DATES, AND LOCATION: The Misdemeanor Defender Training will be held at the UNC School of Government on Wednesday, November 12 through Friday, November 14. Topics will include impaired driving, stops […]

  • The 6 “Rs” of Trauma-Informed Care

    2025 Mental Health and Education Series: Session 6 The 6 “Rs” of Trauma-Informed Care Presented by Carla Huff, LCSW   This session is approved for 60 minutes of CLE Credit.   Schedule: The webinar will be held on Thursday, November 20th from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Please plan to sign on 15 minutes before […]

  • 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 […]

  • Parent Representation Basics

    December 8, 2025 Parent Representation Basics: What You Need to Know About the Child Welfare System Location: Jury Assembly Room Haywood County Courthouse 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. To sign up, email [email protected]

  • Vaya Health LME/MCO Information Session

    Vaya Health LME/MCO Information Session for the following counties: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Caswell, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Franklin, Graham, Granville, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Person, Polk, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Swain, Transylvania, Vance, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey   Date/Time: Wednesday, January 21st @ 1pm Registration: here https://nccourts.webex.com/weblink/register/rf1f20ad9b7eb313e05f8843f45752c87 There is no […]