Parent Attorney Conference
- Chapel Hill, NCAugust 20, 2026
August 20, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Chapel Hill
Registration will close on Friday, August 7.
This conference is open to attorneys who represent respondents in abuse, neglect, dependency, and termination of parental rights proceedings. Topics will include legislative and case law updates (including strategies and tips for defenders), the role of Rule 17 guardians ad litem for parents, and tips for working with challenging clients.
For information about other public defense education courses, visit our Public Defense Education site.
AGENDA
The agenda will be made available at a later date.
REGISTRATION FEE
The registration fee for private assigned and managed assigned counsel is $225. There is no fee for IDS state employees.
CONTINUING EDUCATION INFORMATION
The conference will offer approximately 6 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit, and will qualify for NC State Bar Child Welfare and Family Law specializations, subject to Bar approval.
Additional information
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
A limited number of scholarships are available for private assigned and managed assigned counsel. If you are interested in applying, complete the scholarship application as soon as possible. If you receive a scholarship, the registration fee is waived. The scholarship deadline is 5:00 pm on Friday, July 31. Please refer to the scholarship website for additional information.
HOTEL INFORMATION
A block of rooms is available at the Hampton Inn & Suites Chapel Hill/Durham (6121 Farrington Rd, Chapel Hill, NC) for $129 plus tax. The hotel reservation deadline is 5:00 pm on Tuesday, July 28. To reserve a room, please refer to the hotel’s website or call the hotel at (919) 403-8700 and ask for room block “Juvenile Defender/Parent Attorney Conferences.”
PARKING INFORMATION
Parking details will be provided to you by your program manager the week prior to the conference. Additional directions and parking information can be found on our Visitor Information page.
MATERIALS
Conference materials will be available under the "Materials" tab above. Materials are posted as they are received by instructors.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Conference participants who cancel their registration more than 7 calendar days before the conference start date will receive a full refund. Otherwise, participants will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. More information can be found in the full cancellation and refund policy.
SPONSORSHIP
This conference is co-sponsored by the North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services.
- Chapel Hill, NCAugust 20UNC School of Government
400 South Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514View Cancellation PolicyCourse participants who cancel their registration on or before August 12, 2026 will receive a full refund. No refund will be made for cancellations on or after August 13, 2026, but you will receive a transferrable credit to be used within 12 months. Click here to view the School’s full cancellation and refund policy.View Additional InformationMust apply50Public Defender/IDS Employee:
$0.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.Private Assigned Counsel/Managed Assigned Counsel/Non-IDS Employee:
$225.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.PAC/MAC Scholarship (Pre-Approval Required): A limited number of scholarships are available for private assigned and managed assigned counsel. Please refer to the scholarship website for additional information. You must receive pre-approval for a scholarship before registering for the course.
$0.00Registration and payment for this course grants access for a single attendee. In order to register a group of attendees, please register each person individually. If you have questions, please contact our registration office at registration@sog.unc.edu or 919.966.4414.
Materials for the 2025 Parent Attorney Conference (August 21, 2025) can be found online.
Kayla Fowler
