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

Events Search and Views Navigation

Event Views Navigation

Today

  • GPS and Electronic Monitoring Virtual CLE

                                GPS and Electronic Monitoring for Defenders Part II with the Department of Juvenile Justice Fri, May 16 | Webex Registration link: https://nccourts.webex.com/weblink/register/rb6e9cfc47b01f8b4769e0cc078479df5 Speakers: Karmen Turlington, Division of Juvenile Justice Melissa Wilson, BI Incorporated OJD Training Calendar Event Link: https://www.ncjuveniledefender.org/event-details/gps-and-electronic-monitoring-for-defenders-part-ii-with-department-of-juvenile-justice Description: Join […]

  • 2025 Death Penalty Seminar – Register NOW!

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

    The Death Penalty 2025 Seminar will be in Chapel Hill May 1-2, 2025. AGENDA NCAJ is sponsoring the seminar. The seminar has two parts. The first is Thursday evening, May 1, 2025. There will be a reception, a banquet, and a guest speaker. The reception begins at 5 p.m. The guest speaker is Professor Seth […]

  • Annual Western Death Investigation CLE

    The 2025 Western North Carolina Death Investigation Conference will be held virtually from 8:30 AM – 4 PM on April 26, 2025. Registration is now open! This activity is meant to inform and educate partners and learners in the medicolegal death investigation field about the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s system and its role in death […]

  • The Intersection of Civil Rights and Criminal Defense

    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 Intersection of Civil Rights and Criminal Defense. This CLE is approved for 1 general hour and you must sign in when you arrive. As space is limited, please register below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedamUml_4IJjeLpaxeKGM6G8X_7bKVc1C7an1f3spyZH41Jg/viewform?usp=header When: April 25, 2025 from 12:30-1:30. The conference room […]

  • Immigration Collateral Consequences for Youth

    Meeting Type: Virtual | Webex Registration Link: https://nccourts.webex.com/weblink/register/r54f66ce0fa2366f979f0896581067897 Training website link:  https://www.ncjuveniledefender.org/event-details/immigration-collateral-consequences-for-youth-cle Date: Fri. April 11, 2025 Time: 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm Speaker: Helen L. Parsonage

  • Introduction to Wymore Jury Selection – Salisbury

    Introduction to Wymore Jury Selection Salisbury, North Carolina April 11, 2025   Presenter: Terry Alford Terry Alford heads up the Trial Resource Unit at the Office of the Capital Defender of North Carolina. He has practiced criminal defense law for over 40 years, participated as lead counsel in numerous capital murder trials, is a recipient […]

  • Defending Death by Distribution Cases – Registration is open!

    Join us in Durham March 27 & 28, 2025 for a FREE, in-person training on Defending Death by Distribution Cases. Topics will include: Voir Dire & Deselection Forensic Pathology Toxicology Challenging Charging Decisions Preparing for Trial Working with Clients Struggling with Substance Use (Ethics and Professional Well Being) AND small group jury selection workshop! Co-sponsored […]

  • Interpreting Complex DNA Mixtures with STRmix

    The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office is offering a free to attend presentation on Probabilistic Genotyping: Interpreting Complex DNA Mixtures with STRmix. Pending Approval by the NC State Bar, this presentation is for 2.5 hours of general CLE credit. As this presentation will not give a refresher course on DNA basics, please click the below […]

  • “Whiskey in the Courtroom” – Registration now open!

    Indigent Defense Services, the Duke Law Center for Criminal Justice and Professional Responsibility, the Wilson Center for Science and Justice, and Pfeiffer Rudolf are pleased to announce the eleventh annual CLE, “Whiskey in the Courtroom: Evolving Trends in Forensic Science.” Whiskey 11 will take place on March 7, 2025 at Duke Law School. Forensic science experts and […]

  • 2025 Intensive Parent Defender Training

    The 2025 Intensive Parent Defender Training, co-sponsored by the School of Government and the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services, will be held Thursday, March 6 through Friday, March 7. PROGRAM OVERVIEW: This training will focus on termination of parental rights (TPR) proceedings and the role of parent defenders. Topics will include a review […]

  • Introduction to Wymore Jury Selection – Wilmington

    Introduction to Wymore Jury Selection Wilmington, North Carolina February 28, 2025   Presenter: Terry Alford Terry Alford heads up the Trial Resource Unit at the Office of the Capital Defender of North Carolina. He has practiced criminal defense law for over 40 years, participated as lead counsel in numerous capital murder trials, is a recipient […]

  • Current Developments in Criminal Law – Webinar

    Registration for the Current Developments in 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. School of Government faculty member […]