Higher-Level Felony Defense

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Higher-Level Felony Defense

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This course is co-sponsored by the UNC School of Government and the Office of Indigent Defense Services.

The Higher-Level Felony Defense Training is for attorneys interested in handling higher-level felony cases at the trial level. 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.

For information on other public defense education courses, visit our Public Defense Education site.

This course will be held on Tuesday, September 9 - Thursday, September 11.

Registration is now closed for the 2025 Higher-Level Felony Defense Training.

Additional information

Due to the expected level of interest, the intensive nature of the training, and limits on seating capacity, the program will be capped at 40 total 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 counsel or managed assigned counsel, you must currently represent appointed felony clients to register.

AGENDA: You can access the agenda here.

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

CLE CREDIT: This program will offer up to 12.50 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) 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.”

There currently are no scheduled offerings of this course.

Materials for the 2025 Higher-Level Felony Defense Training (September 9-11, 2025) can be found online.

Agenda - 2025 Higher-Level Felony Defense Training (pdf, 159 KB)

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