Appellate 101: Preparing for Practice
Appellate practitioners play a critical role in shaping how the law is interpreted and applied in our country. By influencing how legal issues are presented and decided, their work helps define the rules that guide courts, institutions, and communities.
There are many roads to becoming an appellate practitioner, and finding the path that is right for you can shape the direction of your legal career. This resource is designed to help you begin that process. It offers practical ideas for exploring appellate opportunities early and laying the groundwork for becoming an appellate attorney.
Through an overview of key skills to develop, courses and activities to pursue in law school, and ways to build your network, this guide highlights pathways to appellate practice.
Contributor Section
Kate Swenson
Kate Swenson is a partner at Greene Espel PLLP in Minneapolis, where she guides clients in the public and private sectors through all stages of dispute resolution, including trial and the appellate process. Before entering private practice, Kate was legal counsel to the 2011 Minnesota Special Redistricting Panel and served as a judicial law clerk for the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Kate earned her law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Minnesota, where she played varsity hockey.
