Louisiana Civil Appeals

For “Bridging the Gap” participants

Today, I gave a one-hour CLE presentation on appellate practice for the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Bridging the Gap webinar for newly sworn-in lawyers. For the participants and anyone else who may be interested, here are some bonus goodies.

First, here are some resources on typography:

• Painting with Print by Ruth Anne Robbins. This 2004 article changed the way I think about typography in everything I write.
• The U.S. Seventh Circuit’s Requirements and Advice for Typography in Briefs and Other Papers. This article is an introduction to typography and a good source of tips to make your briefs and motions look better.
• Typography for Lawyers, by Matthew Butterick. Matthew is the leading authority on this stuff. I highly recommend his book to any lawyer who cares about making a good impression.

Next, here are some sample briefs and motions. I offer these with the caution to avoid over-reliance on others’ work product for other cases. 

• Motion for extension of briefing deadline
• Request for oral argument (letter)
• Request for oral argument (pleading)
• Appellant's original brief
• Writ application to La. Supreme Court

Finally, in case you missed the presentation:

• My written materials
• My slide presentation (PDF)

A plug for the LSBA Advanced Appellate Practice webinar

If you’re looking for appellate CLE, then please consider registering for the Louisiana State Bar Association’s upcoming Advanced Appellate Practice Webinar, to be held on the afternoon of April 9, 2021. The program offers two hours of appellate CLE. In the first hour, attorney Thomas Flanagan will interview newly elected Supreme Court Justice Piper Griffin. The second hour will be a panel presentation on how to make every part of your brief persuasive, from cover to conclusion. The panel includes Judge Guy Holdridge of the Louisiana First Circuit, Judge Sandra Cabrina Jenkins of the Louisiana Fourth Circuit, attorney Kelly Becker of Liskow & Lewis, and me. To view more information about the program or to register online, follow this link.

Appellate CLE offered by the New Orleans Bar Association

If you’re looking for appellate CLE, the New Orleans Bar Association has an inexpensive offering for you: a one-hour discussion of appellate practice with a pair of Louisiana chief judges: Chief Judge McKay of the Fourth Circuit and Chief Judge Chehardy of the Fifth Circuit. Attorneys Kelly Becker and Leigh Ann Schell will moderate. It’s only $20 for NOBA members and $40 for non-members. It’s going to be a Zoom webinar, so no travel time or expenses. For more information or to register, follow this link.

Not too late for appellate CLE

If you need some last minute appellate CLE, the Louisiana State Bar Association offers 15 on-line sessions. To browse the menu, follow this link.

For “Bridging the Gap” participants

This morning, I gave a one-hour CLE presentation on appellate practice for the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Bridging the Gap webinar, a program for new lawyers. For those who attended the program (and anyone else who may be interested), here are some links and things to supplement my written materials:

• A PDF copy of my slide presentation
• Painting With Print, by Ruth Anne Robbins, an article on how to improve the typography of legal documents
• The U.S. Seventh Circuit’s Requirements and Advice for Typography in Briefs and Other Papers

CLE on the science and rhetoric of persuasive writing

This one-hour CLE session looks promising: Legal Writing: A Judge’s Perspective on the Science and Rhetoric of the Written Word. The presented is Judge Robert E. Bacharach of the U.S. Tenth Circuit. It’s sponsored by the ABA and the ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers. The program “will draw on the field of psycholinguistics, using numerous examples from famous oratory and passages from briefs and opinions by well-known judges and advocates.” The registration fee is $99 for non-member of the ABA, $59 for ABA members and $39 for members of the ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers.

While you’re at it, if you’re an appellate lawyer and ABA member, you might consider joining the Council of Appellate Lawyers. I’ve benefited from my membership in the CAL; so will you.

LSBA appellate webinar on October 2

On October 2, 2020, the LSBA will hold a two-hour CLE on appellate practice. Thomas Flanagan will interview three judges: Judge Sylvia Cooks (La. Third Circuit), Judge Kyle Duncan (U.S. Fifth Circuit), and Justice William Crain (La. Supreme Court). According to the seminar flyer, “The interviews will focus on appellate practice, including the inner workings of the courts and attributes of effective written and oral advocacy.” Follow these links for more information about this webinar:

• General information
• Flyer
• Registration form 

LSBA’s “Bridging the Gap” seminar Oct. 16–17

If you’re new to the practice of law (or know someone who is), then you may be interested in the Louisiana State Bar Association’s “Bridging the Gap” seminar, to be held on October 16–17 in New Orleans. This is a great seminar for anyone who just passed the Louisiana bar exam. I’m on the program for October 17 to talk about appellate practice. For more information about the seminar or to register, follow this link. 

2019 DRI appellate seminar scheduled

According to a members-only notice from DRI, the DRI 2019 Appellate Advocacy Seminar (open to everyone) is scheduled for July 19, 2019 in Chicago. That’s all the information I have now; there’s nothing on the DRI web site yet. If you need appellate CLE and like to plan way ahead, you might want to block out July 18–20 now. 

 

La. Advanced Appellate Seminar on Nov. 30

If you are (a) reading this blog, and (b) in need of CLE hours, then check out the LSBA’s Advanced Appellate Seminar, scheduled for November 30 in New Orleans. The seminar co-chairs, Judge Sylvia Cooks and Tom Flanagan, have put together a solid program offering 6.25 hours of CLE credit. The faculty includes 12 appellate judges. For detailed information about the seminar, follow this link. Follow these links to download the seminar flyer and the registration form.