Intensive Parent Defender Training

Click here to sign up to receive a notification when registration is available for this course
Notify Me When Registration Is Available
Use the form below to receive a notification when this course has registration available.
E-mail Address
Enter an email address to receive a notification by email.

Text Message Number
Enter a phone number to receive a notification by text. Please include your country area code in your phone number.

Allow the School of Government to save your information?

The School of Government will keep your information in order to contact you about courses you may be interested in. We will never give or sell your information to an outside source.

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

This training will focus on termination of parental rights (TPR) proceedings and the role of parent defenders. Topics will include a review of the different stages of a TPR; advocacy tips regarding the grounds and the best interest factors; evidentiary considerations at each stage; and more about the steps defenders should take before, during, and after a TPR to protect their client’s interests.

For additional information about public defense education courses and resources, visit our Public Defense Education site.

This course will be held Thursday, March 6, to Friday, March 7.

Registration is closed for the 2025 Intensive Parent Defender Training.

Additional information

AGENDA: The agenda can be found here.

PARTICIPANTS: The Intensive Parent Defender Training is open to public defenders and private attorneys appointed to represent parents in juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency, who are interested in the fundamentals of parent representation and in sharpening their advocacy skills.

SCHOLARSHIPS: A limited number of scholarships are available for private assigned counsel and contract attorneys. If you are interested in applying, click here to complete the scholarship application. You must apply and receive approval for a scholarship before registering. Please apply as soon as possible. Scholarships are awarded no later than two weeks after application submission. The scholarship application deadline is Friday, February 14.

CLE: The program will offer approximately 10.5 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credit, including one hour of ethics credit, and qualifies for the NC State Bar child welfare law specialization credit (pending State Bar approval).

To receive partial credit, if you are unable to view the entire program, either live or via recording, please submit your partial credit form to Kayla Fowler at kfowler@sog.unc.edu by Friday, March 14.

HOTEL INFORMATION: A block of rooms is available at the Tru by Hilton Chapel Hill hotel (1742 Fordham Blvd Chapel Hill, NC ) for $114 plus tax. This rate includes a complimentary breakfast, parking, and free wi-fi. To reserve a room, book here or call the hotel at (984) 291-7200 and ask for room block “905” or “Intensive Parent Defender Training”. The reservation deadline is Wednesday, February 12.

COVID GUIDELINES: UNC-Chapel Hill and the School of Government are required to follow the University’s Community Standards to help maintain a healthy and safe community. Masks are optional on the UNC-Chapel Hill campus (with exceptions in health care settings and Chapel Hill Transit). We will have masks available for anyone who prefers to wear one while in the building.

Intensive Parent Defender Training qualifies for NC State Bar child welfare law specialization credit.

There currently are no scheduled offerings of this course.

Agenda - 2025 Intensive Parent Defender Training (pdf, 183 KB)

Digital Materials - 2025 Intensive Parent Defender Training (pdf, 20 MB)

For all registration questions, resetting passwords, or login issues please contact: