EVENTS

Our events prepare future appellate leaders with the skills, knowledge, and professional connections required for success in appellate law. Programming combines hands-on training, direct engagement with judges and practitioners, and structured mentorship to build long-term representation and influence in appellate courts.

At TAP, our events aren’t just about learning appellate skills — they’re about building a lasting community of leaders who will shape the law for generations. Every program is intentionally designed to connect students of color with the people, knowledge, and opportunities that have long been concentrated in closed networks. We create spaces where future appellate leaders feel seen, supported, and empowered — and where leaders in the field show up meaningfully for them.

From closed-door strategy sessions with top advocates, to 101-style introductions that demystify the appellate world, to behind-the-scenes access in courtrooms across the country, TAP events open doors that are too often closed. The caliber of our speakers, the depth of our conversations, and the relationships formed along the way are what set us apart.

  • Judicial Access & Courtroom Exposure

    Our program participants gain firsthand insight into how appellate courts operate, how precedent is shaped, and what judges seek in prospective clerks. Events provide direct interaction with judges, clerks, and court staff.

    Representative Events:

    - Visits to the U.S. Supreme Court and federal circuit courts

    - Small-group discussions with state and federal appellate judges

    - Behind-the-scenes tours and debriefs led by current law clerks

  • Skills-Building for Appellate Advocacy

    TAP workshops focus on the core competencies of appellate practice, including legal writing and analysis. Instruction is led by Supreme Court litigators, partners at leading appellate firms, and senior public defenders.

    Representative Events:

    - Legal writing workshops on standards of review, persuasive fact presentation, and editing

    - Observation of Supreme Court moot courts followed by debriefs

    - Behind-the-scenes litigation strategy led by by leading Supreme Court appellate advocatess

  • Career Pathways & Professional Development

    We provide structured guidance on navigating appellate careers, including clerkship preparation and alternative entry points into the field. Sessions address the informal networks and unwritten rules that have historically limited access.

    Representative Events:

    -Appellate law 101 events - making sure students know there are many different pathways to appellate work. 

    -Office hours with current and former law clerks

    -Panels featuring impact litigators, public defenders, and in-house appellate counsel

    -Discussions with Supreme Court advocates from leading appellate practices

    -What it feels like to be the first

  • Culture & Community-Building

    TAP fosters professional relationships that extend beyond individual events. Participants connect with peers, mentors, and role models through regional gatherings and peer-led initiatives.

    Representative Events:

    - Alumni-led regional gatherings in cities such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles,  Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia 

    - Networking events, mixers, and peer-led programming

  • Hidden Item

    Hidden Item

News &
Voices

Interested in Sponsoring an Event? 

Contact us to learn more about our event sponsorship opportunities.

Alumni Testimonials

“TAP’s Ninth Circuit event was truly enlightening and life-changing. The Appellate Project perfectly crafted an event designed to connect to some of the greatest appellate minds in the country. The event was raw and real, and students were able to make real life connections that may not have been possible. We gained a clearer understanding of what hard work and dedication looks like in a practical way. And TAP’s gathering the next night was so thoughtfully planned out, from being hosted at a black-owned business to a convening of legal minds at every level. We were able to connect with judges, clerks, students, attorneys and the like. I gained so many genuine connections and cannot wait to attend more events like these!”

Amira Young

2022-23 TAP Mentee

New England Law | Boston, Class of 2023