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.

  • Mitigation for the Noncapital Client – A Series!

    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 […]

  • Practical Criminal Law 2025 – Sylva, NC In-Person CLE

    October 24, 2025 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Southwestern Community College - Burrell Building 447 College Drive, Sylva, NC 28779 SYLVA- CLE BROCHURE CRIM 2025 Approved for 7 hours of CLE (includes 1 hour of ethics CLE and 1 hour of technoogy CLE).

  • Forensic Video and Audio Enhancement

    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, live webcast presentation on Forensic Video and Audio Enhancement. Pending approval by the NC State Bar, this presentation is for 1 hour of technology CLE credit. If you need CLE credit, you must either complete the post-CLE survey or email [email protected] your name, NC State […]

  • Stress Management for Attorneys and Law: The Rest of The Year and Beyond

    2025 Mental Health and Education Series: Session 5 Stress Management for Attorneys and Law: The Rest of The Year and Beyond Presented by Carla Huff, LCSW This session will be submitted for 60 minutes of PWB CLE Credit, and no partial credit will be given.   Schedule: The webinar will be held on Thursday, October […]

  • The Care, Feeding and Discovery of Expert Witnesses

    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 CLE on The Care, Feeding, and Discovery of Expert Witnesses. When: October 10 from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Everyone who registers will receive an email on October 9 with instructions to join. You may log on or enter the conference room by 12:15 p.m. Please register here: […]

  • Mitigation for the Noncapital Client – A Series!

    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 […]

  • Practical Criminal Law 2025 – Rowan County In-Person CLE

    September 26, 2025 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Wallace Educational Forum 500 North Main Street, Salisbury, NC 28144   ROWAN-CLE BROCHURE CRIM 2025 Approved for 7 hours of CLE credit (includes 1 hour of ethics and 1 hour of technology CLE).

  • LME/MCO Information Session*

    Trillium Health Resources LME/MCO Information Session *for the following counties: Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Currituck,  Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene,  Guilford, Halifax, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender,  Perquimans, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Warren, Washington, […]

  • Suicide Prevention

    Part of the  2025 IDS Mental Health and Education Series 60 minutes of General Education CLE Credit   Suicide Prevention Presented by Dr. Mike Crum Schedule: The webinar will be held on Thursday, September 18th from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Please plan to sign on 15 minutes before the start of the webinar to […]

  • 2025 Higher-Level Felony Defense Training

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

    The 2025 Higher-Level Felony Defense 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 Higher-Level Felony Defense Training will be held at the School of Government on Tuesday, September 9 – Thursday, September 11. Topics will include preparing for serious […]

  • Mitigation for the Noncapital Client – A Series!

    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 […]

  • Restorative Justice in Durham and Orange Counties

    Restorative Justice in Durham and Orange Counties August 29, 2025, 12:15 to 1:30 pm 5517 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham To register, click here. This in-person event is free and lunch will be provided. Approved for one hour of CLE credit by the North Carolina State Bar. Join Restorative Justice Durham and DSC to learn about […]