Since we all know that effective brief writing is what defines a good appellate lawyer, we recommend that you review this post from the Inverse Condemnation blog. The post summarizes several tips for effective writing gleaned from the panel presentation, “Preparing an Effective Appellate Brief: The Judicial Advocate Perspective.” The program, sponsored by the ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers, took place last month at the ABA’s Midyear Meeting in Chicago. The panelists were Judge Catharina Haynes of the Fifth Circuit, Justice Barbara Jackson of the North Carolina Supreme Court, Timothy Bishop of Mayer Brown’s Chicago office, and former Illinois Solicitor General Michael Scodro, now of Jenner & Block’s Chicago office. The moderator was David Tennant, head of Nixon Peabody’s appellate group.
A link to the program materials is attached to the post. An audio recording will soon be available to ABA members on the Council of Appellate Lawyers website.
(Disclosure: Horvitz & Levy partner Brad Pauley (yours truly) is Chair-Elect of the Council of Appellate Lawyers.)