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I’m currently clerking for a non-CA5 federal circuit judge and am interested in pursuing an appellate practice in Texas once I’m finished. I realize the options for a true appellate practice in Texas are limited, but what firms should I be looking at? I’m guessing GDC Dallas (maybe Houston?) and Baker Botts should be on the list, but where else?

mountainpianist wrote: ↑

Sat Nov 25, 2023 10:51 pm

I’m currently clerking for a non-CA5 federal circuit judge and am interested in pursuing an appellate practice in Texas once I’m finished. I realize the options for a true appellate practice in Texas are limited, but what firms should I be looking at? I’m guessing GDC Dallas (maybe Houston?) and Baker Botts should be on the list, but where else?

Big Law: GDC Dallas, Baker Botts Houston (will be harder to come by pure appellate than GDC), maybe Jackson Walker for state appeals?

There are lots of boutiques that do federal and state appeals. In Houston, look at Susman, Beck Redden, SKV, AZA, G&B, Lehotsky Keller, etc. These boutiques have decent appelalte practices that are generally at least the size of a comparable big law appellate group. There are also some boutique firms that might not pay market (unsure) but do appellate. Usually run by a former SCOTX justice. Look at the SCOTX docket and you will start to see some repeat players.

GDC Dallas - Great office, lots of appellate work, but much of it involves DC associates.

Baker Botts Houston/Austin/Dallas - Probably that order for appellate work. Suitable midlevels get invited to join the appellate group. A great place to get appellate work if you are good at it.

Haynes Boone Dallas/Houston - A premiere destination for associates who want a realistic shot at appellate work. Associates are hired directly into the group. HayBoo likely has more full time appellate lawyers in Texas than the previous two firms combined (this can be kind of hard to gauge based on how firms categorize their attorneys).

Among Biglaw, you would also want to consider V&E, Greenberg Traurig, Locke Lord, Bracewell, and Jackson Walker.

The leading appellate boutiques are Alexander Dubose and Wright Close Barger. Litigation boutiques with leading appellate practices would be Beck Redden, Yetter Coleman, and Lehotsky Keller. The boutiques that the previous poster mentioned are all leading firms, but they either do not have a leading appellate practice or do not tend to regularly hire associates for appellate work.

Texas probably has the largest specialist appellate bar outside of DC. A lot of Texas appellate practice focuses on state court tort/commercial work versus federal work so it’s a quite different world though. Look at the Chambers rankings. You don’t necessarily need superstar credentials unlike in DC appeals but you may not make market salary.

Anonymous User wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 28, 2023 11:56 am

Texas probably has the largest specialist appellate bar outside of DC. A lot of Texas appellate practice focuses on state court tort/commercial work versus federal work so it’s a quite different world though. Look at the Chambers rankings. You don’t necessarily need superstar credentials unlike in DC appeals but you may not make market salary.

Part of this is because of Texas mandamus practice. You can basically try to mandamus anything.