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!
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.
The Mecklenburg County Public Defender’s Office is hosting a free-to-attend video replay presentation of Ethical Conflicts for the Criminal Defense Attorney. This CLE is for 1 ethics hour. If you need CLE credit, you must complete the post-CLE survey or email me your name, NC State Bar # and how long you attended. All attendance […]
The next quarterly Indigent Defense Services (IDS) Commission Meeting will be held on February 7 at 10:00 am, with both in-person and virtual attendance options available. The agenda will include updates on indigent defense initiatives, budget matters, and policy discussions. For meeting details, including the agenda and virtual access information, please visit: Quarterly IDS Commission […]
Registration for the Felony Defender Training, scheduled for February 5-7, 2025, is now open and available at https://www.sog.unc.edu/courses/felony-defender-training. This training is co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services. Agenda - 2025 Felony Defender Training Program: The program will be held at the School of Government with topics covering […]
The Mecklenburg County Public Defender's Office is hosting a free to attend live webinar on Understanding the Core Features of Autism. This presentation is for 1 general CLE hour and if you need CLE credit, you must complete the post-CLE survey or email me your name, NC State Bar # and how long you attended. […]
How to Deal with Challenging Opposing Counsel: 4 Simple Tools to Keep Your Cool Wednesday, January 29th at 12pm (Eastern) Presented by Hon. Julie Kunce Field (Ret.) and Attorney Heidi Webb, Ed.M., J.D. This opportunity is not sponsored by IDS, but by Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (Massachusetts). Join us to discover key tools for dealing […]
Registration for the 2025 Guardianship Proceedings for Appointed Counsel and Civil Commitment Conferences, co-sponsored by the School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now open. PROGRAM OVERVIEW, DATES, AND LOCATION: Both conferences will be held in-person at the School of Government in Chapel Hill and are open to public defenders, appellate […]
Click HERE for more information about this CLE opportunity. January 10, 2025 at 11 a.m. Brunswick County Courthouse To Register: Email [email protected]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
