2025 Higher-Level Felony Defense Training

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 felony cases, eyewitness identifications, habitual felons, self-defense, client relations and rapport, sentencing law and advocacy, and mitigation investigation. The program consists of a mix of lectures and intensive small-group workshops. Due to the program’s interactive nature, participants must attend all sessions.

FEE: The registration fee for private attorneys is $350. There is no fee for IDS state employees and private assigned and managed assigned counsel.

REGISTRATION: Register here for the Higher-Level Felony Defense Training. The registration deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, August 22.

 Due to the expected level of interest, the intensive nature of the training, and limits on seating capacity, the program is capped at a total of 40 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 program will offer up to 12.50 hours of continuing legal education credit, including 1 hour of ethics credit (pending State Bar approval).

HOTEL INFORMATION: A block of rooms is available at the Tru by Hilton Chapel Hill (1742 Fordham Blvd, Chapel Hill, NC) for $129 plus taxes and fees. The hotel reservation deadline is Saturday, August 9. To reserve a room, please refer to the hotel’s website here or call the hotel at (984) 291-7200 and ask for room block “918” or “Higher Level Felony Defense Training.”

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].