Appellate practice can feel out of reach, but related skills can be learned over time. This resource offers practical guidance to help you explore the field and build experience at any stage in your career.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We've created this roadmap: a year-by-year guide to help you make strategic choices that align with your appellate aspirations.

TAP Board member Paul Watford, former judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, explores how dissenting opinions often carry weight that extends far beyond their immediate legal impact.

TAP alumni had the rare opportunity to attend a private event hosted by the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court—the first and only American Inn of Court dedicated specifically to appellate practice.

Listen to TAP Alum Ramon Ryan on the American Bar Association Litigation Section podcast.

We believe the future of appellate law can and should reflect the full experiences and perspectives of our nation.

We applaud the news of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic nomination, which shows our future appellate leaders that they too can serve on this country’s highest court.