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.

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.

Click HERE to sign up.

  • 2024 Child Support Enforcement: Representing Respondents Conference

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

    Registration for the 2024 Child Support Enforcement: Representing Respondents conference, co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now available at https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/child-support-enforcement. PROGRAM: […]

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences 101 – December

    60 minutes of CLE Credit Offered Adverse Childhood Experiences 101: Childhood experiences impact overall development and functioning, resulting in risk and protective factors. This presentation will focus on the impact of adverse childhood experiences, impact on brain development, overall health risk factors and what the data has shown about ACE scores. Attorneys will gain knowledge […]

  • Secondary Traumatic Stress – December

    FREE WEBINAR: Friday, December 15th at 2:30 p.m. 60 minutes of MH/SA Credit Offered Secondary Traumatic Stress: Its Impacts & Strategies for Coping Effectively: Frequent exposure to traumatic experiences impacts our overall health and well-being. This presentation will focus on describing secondary traumatic stress and how it impacts the brain, who is at risk for […]

  • Two Webinars: On the changes to adult guardianship proceedings resulting from Session Law 2023-124

    Please join School of Government faculty members Timothy Heinle and Meredith Smith as they host two webinars in December that will highlight changes to adult guardianship proceedings resulting from Session Law 2023-124. Please see below for specific details about the webinars and to register for each. December 7, 2023: Practical Considerations for Implementing Session Law […]

  • 2023 Winter Criminal Law Webinar

    Registration is still open for the 2023 Winter Criminal Law Webinar hosted by the School of Government. 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. […]

  • Two Webinars: On the changes to adult guardianship proceedings resulting from Session Law 2023-124

    Please join School of Government faculty members Timothy Heinle and Meredith Smith as they host two webinars in December that will highlight changes to adult guardianship proceedings resulting from Session Law 2023-124. Please see below for specific details about the webinars and to register for each. December 7, 2023: Practical Considerations for Implementing Session Law […]

  • Practical Criminal Law 2023

    For more than 10 years, the Rowan County local Bar has provided CLE opportunities annually focusing on both Criminal Law and Family Law. This year, the Rowan County Bar Association is partnering with the 43rd Judicial District Bar to offer a high-quality lineup of speakers who will cover a variety of important topics relevant for […]

  • Secondary Traumatic Stress – November

    FREE WEBINAR: Friday, November 17th at 2:30 p.m. 60 minutes of MH Credit Offered Secondary Traumatic Stress: Its Impacts & Strategies for Coping Effectively: Frequent exposure to traumatic experiences impacts our overall health and well-being. This presentation will focus on describing secondary traumatic stress and how it impacts the brain, who is at risk for […]

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences 101 – **Rescheduled** from November 16 to 17

    60 minutes of CLE Credit Offered Adverse Childhood Experiences 101: Childhood experiences impact overall development and functioning, resulting in risk and protective factors. This presentation will focus on the impact of adverse childhood experiences, impact on brain development, overall health risk factors and what the data has shown about ACE scores. Attorneys will gain knowledge […]

  • New Options in Capacity to Proceed to Trial Restoration

    HYBRID: In person and live webcast event!! Registration closes on November 16th at noon. This CLE has now been approved for 1 general hour. The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office is offering a free to attend in person or live webcast presentation on New Options in Capacity to Proceed to Trial Restoration. This CLE is […]

  • 2023 Misdemeanor Defender Training

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

    Registration for the 2023 Misdemeanor Defender Training, cosponsored by the School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now available at https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/misdemeanor-defender-training. Program: This course is an introductory program for attorneys new to misdemeanor cases. Sessions focus on stops and searches, impaired driving, ethical issues in district court, sentencing and jail credit, […]