Why do the big law firms have dedicated appellate counsel?
1. Fresh Perspective After working long hours, sometimes years, preparing a case for trial, an attorney can become emotionally invested in the arguments, the people, and the merits of the case. An appellate attorney may be able to identify strengths or weaknesses that were overlooked during trial, and provide a more realistic assessment of a client’s prospects on appeal. 2. Appropriate Skills At trial, success requires eloquent oratory from a charismatic attorney who can hold a jury’s attention and appeal to their emotions. On appeal, however, success requires the opposite: a written argument that is measured in tone and relies on logic to persuade the judges. Rather than making the mistake of relying on oral argument, an appellate attorney will make sure that the briefs contain the best possible presentation of your arguments by properly framing the case and focusing the court on the winning issues. 3. Knowledge of the Audience Appellate judges are a unique audience, far different fro
