The 2026 Higher-Level Felony Defense course, co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services, is now open for registration.
COURSE OVERVIEW, DATES, AND LOCATION: The course will be held at the School of Government on Tuesday, September 8 – Thursday, September 10. Topics will include preparing for serious felony cases, eyewitness identifications, habitual felons, self-defense, client relations and rapport, sentencing law and advocacy, and mitigation investigation. The course consists of a mix of lectures and an intensive small-group workshop. Due to the course’s interactive nature, participants must attend all sessions.
You can access the agenda here.
FEE: The registration fee for private attorneys is $375. There is no fee for IDS state employees and private assigned and managed assigned counsel.
REGISTRATION: Register here for Higher-Level Felony Defense.
The registration deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, August 28.
Due to the expected level of interest, the intensive nature of the course, and limits on seating capacity, the course is capped at a total of 30 participants. You must take the following steps BEFORE you can register.
- If you are in a public defender’s office, you must obtain the approval of your Chief Public Defender to register. Because of limited space, each office is allotted one slot.
- If you are a private assigned and managed assigned counsel, you must currently represent appointed felony clients to register.
CLE CREDIT: This course will offer approximately 13 hours of continuing legal education credit, including 1 hour of ethics credit (pending State Bar approval).
HOTEL INFORMATION: Hotel block information will be shared at a later date.
TRAVEL INFORMATION: Contact Shannon Simmons, IDS Accounts Payable Supervisor, at [email protected] or (919) 890-1660. Please note that travel reimbursement forms must be submitted to IDS Financial Services by the end of the month following the travel, or reimbursement will be denied.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: If you have any questions or need further information, contact Program Manager Kayla Fowler at [email protected].