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Appellate attorneys, how much brief writing are you doing?
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2025 11:10 pm
by Anonymous User
For the appellate attorneys, I’m curious how much substantive writing you all are doing in your practice. How many briefs do you typically write in a year? What about oral arguments? And what kind of shop are you in? (private/government/etc., how many attorneys, region of country)
Re: Appellate attorneys, how much brief writing are you doing?
Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2025 8:07 am
by Crazysnackaroo
I'm no longer really an appellate attorney, but I was.
When I was, I was probs writing around 2 substantive briefs a month for appeal. I also helped out a trial team with bigger motions (like writing the congressional history of something on a motion to dismiss). I'd typically work on 2-5 of those a month. I'd also be editing other briefs too. Usually was juggling about 5 of my own projects a month, and around another 2-5 I was actively helping on. And I'd also be a third line edit for a number of other folks in a similar role to mine, so I might just be doing a high level check of grammar, flow, and some blaring case law - but this would only take a day or two.
Re oral arguments: At the district court level, often enough. Probs once every 6 months or so. Same with state trial court. At COA, almost never, at that point it was usually taken from me but somebody more senior. I only did 1.
I've done this in both PI and Govt. Got to do my 1 argument while in Govt, but they took my others. The PI group always had a few stars they brought in to argue. My specific govt role had about 5 of us in that niche. My PI role had 2 of us in that area.
My current role (back in private practice) I do a good amount of brief writing, but it's almost exclusively at the trial court level. I think I've worked on two appellate briefs.