Training Course Syllabus:

Missouri Appellate Workshop: Real-World Tactics

Better Your Chances of Receiving Reversed Decisions in Appellate Courts

There is a vast difference between being a good appellate attorney and a great one. Exceptional writing and speaking abilities, as well as a profound understanding of the law are key skills needed to give your client an outstanding chance of success. Whether you’re a trial attorney transitioning to appellate practice, or an experienced appellate attorney looking to advance your expertise, this full day legal seminar will provide you with practical appellate tips you can only learn from experienced professionals. Get invaluable insight into standards of review, appellate motions, brief writing, error preservation strategies and appellate procedures, deadlines and regulations. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain real-world advice and better your chances of a reversed decision - Register today!

• Increase your knowledge of state and federal appellate procedures, error preservation, motion practice, brief writing and oral argument strategies.
• Find out how appellate judges want you to articulate the standard of review in your brief.
• Discover how to preserve error at every stage in litigation, including critical motions that must be filed.
• Gain a better understanding of the interlocutory appeals process.
• Find which motions can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
• Learn the elements that make opening briefs, answering briefs and reply briefs get noticed by the court.
• Better understand the process of soliciting and preparing amicus briefs.
• Discover how to write petitions for review to courts of last resort and how to make your case stand out for review.

1. WHAT APPELLATE JUDGES WANT YOU TO KNOW
   9:00 - 10:00, Hon. Kurt S. Odenwald and Hon. Angela Turner Quigless
   
1. Standard of Review and the Facts
2. Petitions
3. Interaction with the Court and the Clerk’s Office
4. Tips for Organizing Your Brief
5. The Best and Worst Oral Argument Tactics
2. THE MECHANICS OF APPELLATE PRACTICE: STATE AND FEDERAL
   10:00 - 10:25, Douglas E. Gossow
   
3. TRIAL COURT STRATEGIES FOR APPELLATE SUCCESS
   10:40 - 11:15, William A. Kohlburn
   
1. To Appeal or Not to Appeal?
2. Planning to Preserve Error at Every Stage in Litigation
1. Working with Trial Counsel
2. Motions and Preserving Error
3. To Object or Not to Object
4. Offers of Proof
5. Daubert
3. Handling Issues Which Were Not Properly Preserved at Trial
4. Advising the Trial Attorney Before They Bring You the Record for Appeal
4. WRITS AND INTERLOCUTORY APPEALS
   11:15 - 11:45, Douglas E. Gossow
   
5. MOTION PRACTICE AND OPPOSITIONS IN APPELLATE COURTS
   11:45 - 12:15, Steven D. Rineberg
   
6. BRIEF WRITING: TIPS YOU DIDN’T LEARN IN LAW SCHOOL
   1:15 - 2:00, Steven D. Rineberg
   
1. Opening Briefs
1. Legal Authorities - Application of the Law to the Facts
2. The Interplay of Points Relied on, Statement of the Case, Facts, Issues and Argument Sections
3. How to Characterize the Trial Court Decision in Your Brief
2. Answering Briefs
3. Reply Briefs
4. Cross-Appeal Briefs
5. Using Formatting, Citations and Footnotes to Please the Courts
6. Electronic Briefs
7. ORAL ARGUMENT STRATEGIES
   2:00 - 2:40, Steven D. Rineberg
   
1. The Art of Getting Granted Oral Argument
2. Structuring Your Argument
3. Anticipating Difficult Questions
4. Rebuttal Strategies
5. Using Technology
6. Tips and Lessons Learned Over the Years
8. CONVINCING THE COURTS OF LAST RESORT
   2:55 - 3:30, William A. Kohlburn
   
1. Filing Petitions for Review to Courts of Last Resort: Writ of Cert.
1. How to Make Your Case Stand Out for Review
2. Brief Writing for a Court of Last Resort
3. Arguing a Case Before a Court of Last Resort
4. Soliciting and Preparing Amicus Curiae Briefs
9. ETHICAL ISSUES IN APPELLATE COURT
   3:30 - 4:30, Sanford J. Boxerman
   
1. Assessment and Citation of the Appellate Record
2. The Duty to Advise of Errors and Malpractice
3. Accurately Citing Facts, Evidence and Legal Authorities
4. Overstating Facts in Your Brief
5. Ethical Issues and the Oral Argument
6. Civility Toward Opposing Counsel and Trial Court
7. Frivolous Appeals

Seminar Summary:

Get invaluable insight into standards of review, appellate motions, brief writing, error preservation strategies and appellate procedures, deadlines and regulations.  (see full course description)

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