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.

  • 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 […]

  • IDS Commission Quarterly Meeting – August 22, 2025

    North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts 901 Corporate Center Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina

    The IDS Commission will meet Friday, August 22, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Location: The NCJC, Raleigh) More information is coming soon...

  • Trauma Stewardship for Self and Others

    July 2025 Mental Health and Education Series: Trauma Stewardship for Self and Others   Good for 60 Minutes of Well Being CLE Credit ***No Partial Credit Given*** Schedule: The webinar will be held on Thursday, August 21st from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Please plan to sign on 15 minutes before the start of the […]

  • IDS Commission – Personnel Committee

    The Personnel Committee of the IDS Commission will meet in closed session as allowed by G.S. 143-318.11(a)(6) to consider the qualifications, competence, performance, character, fitness, conditions of appointment.

  • Registration OPEN for the 2025 Juvenile Defender and Parent Defender Conferences

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

    The 2025 Juvenile Defender Conference and Parent Attorney Conference, co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, are now open. Please register by Friday, August 8.   PROGRAM OVERVIEW, DATES, AND LOCATION: The Juvenile Defender Conference will be held at the School of Government on Wednesday, August 20. Topics […]

  • IDS Commission – Development Committee

    The IDS Development Committee, an ad hoc committee of the IDS Commission, will meet virtually on Friday, August 15, 2025 from noon to 1 p.m. Meeting Link

  • FREE WEBINAR: Recovery Courts for Defenders

    Deadline to register and view: August 1   This webinar, presented by School of Government faculty Timothy Heinle and public defenders from around North Carolina, will explore what defenders need to know about recovery courts (e.g., drug treatment court), including the appointment process; client eligibility; benefits; risks; tips for providing quality representation in these proceedings; […]