Appellate 101 resources

Law students and emerging legal professionals, particularly those who are first-generation or don’t have access to support, often lack early exposure to the appellate field. As appellate decisions continue to shape nearly every aspect of public life, we are committed to closing this information gap and making appellate career pathways more accessible.

Why Pursue an appellate career

An appellate career offers the next generation of lawyers a powerful opportunity to shape the law in ways that affect entire communities. Appellate courts hear cases on a wide range of issues—from civil rights and criminal justice to economic opportunity and democratic governance—making these courts critical to ensuring fairness and accountability in our legal system.

Greater representation among appellate advocates and decision makers is essential: when the people shaping legal precedent reflect the diversity of the communities most impacted by these decisions, the system is better positioned to deliver equal justice and strengthen public trust in the courts.

why these Resources Matter

Demystifying appellate practice—along with the skills it requires and the careers it offers—is essential to helping the next generation of law students and lawyers recognize both the opportunities before them and the paths to reach them. Clear, accessible information empowers emerging advocates to see themselves in appellate spaces, make informed choices, and pursue these careers with confidence. Through these publicly available resources created by our community of volunteers committed to expanding access to the appellate field, individuals will gain the foundational knowledge needed to begin their appellate journeys.

What you’ll learn

Explore the role of appellate courts and learn how to start building an appellate career, including steps you can take during law school.

foundations of appellate practice

Strengthen your legal analysis, research, and writing—and learn how to apply these skills to appellate advocacy.

core appellate skills

Pathways to appellate careers

Discover the various appellate roles available—from private practice to government and public defense—and what each entails.

These resources were created in partnership with our volunteer network, including many academics, attorneys, and judges. We thank them for their dedication to appellate work and for welcoming younger generations to the field.

Resources

All Posts

Appellate 101: Demystifying Appellate Legal Writing

Appellate writing can feel specialized, with its own conventions and focus on legal analysis, precedent, and standards of review. This resource breaks down the key components of an appellate brief and offers practical guidance on crafting clear, persuasive arguments.

Appellate 101: Demystifying Federal District Court Clerkships

Federal district court clerkships are a valuable path to appellate law. This resource explains the role, skills developed, and how these positions can support long-term appellate career goals.

Appellate 101: Preparing for Practice

There are many paths to appellate practice. This resource offers practical guidance for exploring appellate opportunities early and building the skills and experience needed for appellate work.

Appellate 101: Demystifying the Appellate Process

After a case is decided in a trial court, a party may ask an appellate court to review whether the law was applied correctly. This resource explains the appellate process, key stages, and the far-reaching impact appellate decisions can have.

in their words

With over 25 years of experience as an appellate and Supreme Court lawyer in both government and private practice, I have seen firsthand that the appellate bar lacks diversity. While many students can easily enter the world of appellate practice through familial or social connections, others face serious entry-level hurdles – like not knowing about internship and clerkship opportunities. These barriers aren’t about talent, dedication, or hard work: they’re about access. And ultimately, they keep promising young professionals from entering the appellate community. TAP is here to change that.

Sarah Harrington
Partner
Covington & Burling LLP
The Appellate Project provided me with a safe space to learn from various appellate attorneys and provided me with a wonderful community across the country. Participating in the program allowed me to better understand the world of appellate advocacy and it reaffirmed my commitment to seeking justice through the legal profession.

Christina Cruz
2021-22 TAP Alum
University of Connecticut School of Law, Class of 2024
The J.M.K. Innovation Prize supports bold, early-stage problem-solvers leading groundbreaking projects across the US. We saw an extraordinary opportunity in The Appellate Project, which seeks to transform the pipeline of talent that feeds our nation’s highest courts. We’ve invested in TAP because of its visionary, creative approach to dismantling systemic barriers and ensuring equal justice under the law for all communities.

Julia Bator
Executive Director
J.M. Kaplan Fund
The Appellate Project is invaluable. It makes the appellate world accessible to students who might otherwise find it intimidating, and it equips future leaders from diverse backgrounds with the mentorship, skills, and community to thrive.

Deepak Gupta
Founding Principal, Gupta Wessler LLP and Lecturer, Harvard Law School
TAP fills an important role of demystifying and cracking open the appellate bar through mentorship and community. This is key in creating a more representative group of practitioners and judges, who help tee up and decide important questions for the whole country.

Devi Rao
Director of the Supreme Court and Appellate Program
MacArthur Justice Center
As an appellate lawyer and former federal appellate judge, I know how appellate courts shape every facet of American life—and how the lawyers and judges in these rooms still don’t reflect the diversity of the communities most impacted by their decisions. The Appellate Project is changing that by opening doors to emerging leaders who have too often been excluded from these spaces. TAP’s work is critical to ensuring that our highest courts remain both fair and credible in the eyes of the people they serve.

Judge Paul Watford (Ret.)
Partner, King & Spalding LLP
TAP Board Member
If the “life of the law … has been experience,” its death knell surely is groupthink. Without the reasoned disagreement and vibrant debate associated with diverse experiences, the law is destined to become brittle dogma untethered to the promotion of equal justice. TAP understands this. That is why it paves the road to an appellate system where judges and advocates tend to reflect the different backgrounds and perspectives of the communities they serve.

Cesar Lopez-Morales
Supreme Court & Appellate Counsel
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP