Apellate Practice

Issue Number

Latest documents

• Silly Lawyer Tricks XXVI. Whether or not the attorney's story is the electronic version of 'the dog ate my homework,' it is a cautionary tale
• Legal Advocacy as Interactive Storytelling. An advocate employs similar techniques to those used to tell interactive stories in a totally different medium: video games
• Views from the Bench: Interviews with Leading Women Appellate Jurists. Insights into effective briefing and oral argument as well as advice for those considering a path to the bench
• New Amendments to Rule 3(c): Removing 'Traps for the Unwary'. Some important takeaways from the recent amendments to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(c)
• Young Lawyers: Why You Should Take a Pro Bono Appeal. Pro bono appeals are often overlooked as a way to give back to the community, but are worth considering for a number of reasons
• Silly Lawyer Tricks XXV. You're probably not on the winning side of the argument when the court uses the term 'striking legal emptiness
• An Associate's Reflections on Her First Oral Argument. The real challenge of oral argument is to be prepared to advocate for your client and to be prepared to persuade and educate the court
• Reclaiming Our Humanity: Make Your Legal Writing More Readable. Most attorneys write like they think an attorney is supposed to sound.
• Your First Federal Appeal: Some Considerations to Keep in Mind. A brief guide covering some factors to consider when the trial court's decision doesn?t go your way
• Five Reasons Every Young Appellate Lawyer Should Write Pro Bono Amicus Briefs. There are few more rewarding or meaningful ways to volunteer than writing a pro bono amicus brief

Featured documents

• Legal Advocacy as Interactive Storytelling. An advocate employs similar techniques to those used to tell interactive stories in a totally different medium: video games
• Tips on Effective Editing. Editing can be the difference between a brief that gets read and one that gets skimmed
• New Amendments to Rule 3(c): Removing 'Traps for the Unwary'. Some important takeaways from the recent amendments to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 3(c)
• Silly Lawyer Tricks XIX. Will they never learn? When in a hole, stop digging!
• Silly Lawyer Tricks XXII. Tales of self-inflicted wounds, colorful language and tone, and attorney misconduct.
• Roundtable Recap: Fundamentals of Oral Advocacy on Appeal. If you are seeking to start your appellate practice, here are some tips to help you along the way.
• Five Tips for Oral Argument. Use your oral argument time wisely and be a good advocate
• How to Make Technical Briefs Understandable for Generalist Judges. With some care and effort, a lawyer can reduce even the most complicated subject matter to something that generalist judges--and their clerks--can understand
• It Is Time to Revisit Qualified Immunity. With recent incidents of police misconduct and a renewed debate on the role of policing and police tactics, the doctrine of qualified immunity for police officers has come under scrutiny
• Standards of Appellate Review of Mixed Questions of Federal Constitutional Law and Fact: Follow the SCOTUS. Practitioners can rely on a considerable body of federal and state law to call on state appellate courts to apply a de novo standard of appellate review in cases presenting mixed issues of federal constitutional law and fact