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High Point University Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law is pleased to welcome Clifton \u201cCliff\u201d Thomas Barrett to its faculty as a Professor of Practice. A distinguished prosecutor, trial advocate, and legal educator, Professor Barrett brings more than four decades of experience in state and federal prosecution and a longstanding passion for preparing the next generation of lawyers for the realities of trial practice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Founding Dean and Professor of Law Mark Martin said, \u201cCliff Barrett is an exceptional addition to the High Point Law faculty.\u00a0 His remarkable courtroom experience, dedication to public service, and passion for teaching trial advocacy will give our students invaluable insight into effective advocacy and professional character. We are delighted to welcome him to High Point Law.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Professor Barrett\u2019s career has been defined by public service and courtroom advocacy. He served in numerous leadership roles with the United States Attorney\u2019s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, including twenty-five years as Chief of the Criminal Division and as United States Attorney. During his federal career, he managed complex prosecutions and tried approximately fifty jury trials, involving organized crime, narcotics, violent crime, public corruption, white-collar crime, tax fraud, money laundering, child exploitation, and national security. He also argued ten appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Early in his career, he served as an Assistant District Attorney in Forsyth County, North Carolina.\u00a0 Professor Barrett tried more than one hundred and twenty-five state jury cases, including eighteen homicides. His work included numerous high-profile prosecutions and cases involving emerging areas of criminal law, including the early use of DNA evidence in criminal trials.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But for Professor Barrett, trial advocacy has always been about more than practicing law\u2014it has also been about teaching it.\u00a0 \u201cI have been a prosecutor for my entire professional life, nine years in state court, and over thirty-one years in federal court,\u201d Barrett said. \u201cBut my passion has always been teaching trial advocacy.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n That passion for teaching will be central to Professor Barrett\u2019s role at High Point Law. He previously taught trial advocacy as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Practice at Wake Forest University School of Law and mentored students through its Clinic Program. He also instructed newly appointed Assistant United States Attorneys through the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Basic Trial Advocacy Seminar.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Professor Barrett brings a clear philosophy to the classroom\u2014one that emphasizes preparation, creativity, commitment, and the professional responsibility that comes with representing others.\u00a0 Barrett said, \u201cStudents will get out of my course what they put into it.\u00a0 I’m looking for hard work, creativity, and passion.\u00a0 My goal is for every student in this school to graduate with the ability to zealously and effectively represent a party at trial and do so professionally and with humility.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Professor Barrett\u2019s professional accomplishments have been recognized throughout his career. In 2024, he received the North Carolina State Bar\u2019s John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award for contributions to legal education, professionalism, and public confidence in the justice system. In 2013, he received the U.S. Department of Justice\u2019s Director\u2019s Award for distinguished service as a DOJ manager.\u00a0 He is admitted to practice in North Carolina and the District of Columbia, as well as before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" High Point University Kenneth F. Kahn School of Law is pleased to welcome Clifton \u201cCliff\u201d Thomas Barrett to its faculty as a Professor of Practice. A distinguished prosecutor, trial advocate, and legal educator, Professor Barrett brings more than four decades of experience in state and federal prosecution and a longstanding passion for preparing the next…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10469,"featured_media":4344,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_hpuaeo_plugin_post_data":"","_hpuaeo_plugin_meta_tags":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-law-school"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n