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.

Events

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Today

  • Defense Challenges to Firearms Evidence

    Brunswick County Courthouse 310 Government Center Drive NE, Bolivia, NC, United States

    Click HERE for more information about this CLE opportunity. January 10, 2025 at 11 a.m. Brunswick County Courthouse To Register: Email [email protected] 

  • Options in Capacity to Proceed to Trial Restoration

    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 Options in Capacity to Proceed to Trial Restoration. This CLE is approved for 1 general CLE hour and you must either sign in if attending in person, OR if attending the live webcast, complete the post CLE survey (or email me your name, […]

  • FREE 2024 Winter Criminal Law Update Webinar – Register Now!

    Registration for the Winter 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. The 2024 Winter Criminal Law Update will […]

  • IDS Commission Meeting

    The IDS Commission will meet on Friday, November 15, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in person. The meeting will be held at the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC), located at 901 Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, NC 27607. **We will meet in the Hickory Board Room. Link to the Proposed Agenda Link […]

  • 2024 Misdemeanor Defender Training

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

    Registration for the 2024 Misdemeanor Defender Training, co-sponsored 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. Agenda - 2024 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 […]

  • Bridging the Gap VIII Mitigation Conference 2024

    Registration is now OPEN for the 2024 Bridging the Gap VIII Mitigation Conference. Preparing a capital case for trial is difficult. You know the state’s case. You have figured out some sort of defense. You must plan for a sentence hearing. All the planning is directed towards convincing one or more jurors to vote for […]

  • Mental Health and Stress Resilience for Attorneys

    The Mecklenburg County Public Defender's Office is hosting a free to attend online CLE on Mental Health and Stress Resilience for Attorneys. This CLE is approved for 1 hour of professional well-being CLE credit. Please register below as space is limited: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7zKollXK8he9mpXjiJrNBod-VwrC_trfzoULmRXIHciLLUw/viewform?usp=sf_link   When: November 8, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 Where: Anyplace you have internet. Everyone […]

  • FREE Online CLE! NC Criminal Cannabis Law Update – Fall 2024

    The Mecklenburg County Public Defender's Office is hosting a free-to-attend online CLE: NC Criminal Cannabis Law Update - Fall 2024 This CLE is approved for 1 hour of general CLE credit. Please register below as space is limited: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7_oeTZDCU8XhxBqk8M9Uxwec3lS5Rtki-YWQ3GDLIzOCgag/viewform?usp=sf_link   When: October 25, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 Where: Anyplace you have internet. Everyone who registers will […]

  • 2024 North Carolina Appellate Advocacy Training

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

    Registration is open for the 2024 North Carolina Appellate Advocacy Training, sponsored by the School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services. Agenda Guide for Participants   PARTICIPANTS: The Appellate Advocacy Training is open to assistant appellate defenders and attorneys on the appellate appointment list maintained by the Office of the Appellate Defender. […]

  • FREE WEBINAR–Break the Stigma: Let’s Talk About It

    Friday, October 18th @ 2:30 p.m. 90-minutes of CLE Credit Offered; 60-minutes satisfies the professional well-being requirement. Break The Stigma: Let’s Talk About It Talking about suicide is both difficult and lifesaving. This training will provide a brief overview of data related to specific population groups that statistics show have higher rates of suicide, including […]