Winning on appeal : better briefs and oral argument

When the late Ruggero J. Aldisert wrote Winning on Appeal in 1992, it became an instant classic in law school classrooms and appellate law practices across the country. To celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the book's release, Tessa L. Dysart and Leslie H. Southwick carry on the Aldisert tradition of revealing the "nuts and bolts" of how to prepare an effective brief with the nuanced art of a delivering a persuasive appeal to the court. Their meticulously rendered update is replete with dozens of interviews with leading appeals judges and practitioners--treasured guidance from a bona fide who's who of appellate advocacy in America--and escorts readers into the "wired" courtroom of the twenty-first century, where they explore the benefits and challenges of melding technology with appellate advocacy. With a Foreword penned by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Winning on Appeal conveys the perfect blueprint for any lawyer who wants to win on appeal. Reviews "I argued before Judge Aldisert as a young attorney, and I learned from the experience of trying to hold my own in front of the former Marine. I will certainly never forget those occasions. Arguing before Judge Aldisert was the best (and therefore the most demanding) Socratic experience imaginable. Woe to the lawyer who was unprepared or, worse yet, tried to pull something on the court! But to paraphrase that famous Sinatra song, if you could make it arguing in front of Judge Aldisert, you could make it anywhere. I am very pleased that Rugi's teaching will live on after him in this new edition of Winning on Appeal. For new appellate advocates, this volume should be required reading. I wish that it had been available when I argued my first case. For more experienced attorneys, the book contains advanced tips and reminders that may serve as a corrective against the bad habits that are easy to acquire. For any attorney who wants to know how to win on appeal, this is where to look." -- Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Associate Justice, U.S. Supreme Court

Appellate review: a panorama -- The purpose of brief writing -- The purpose of oral argument -- Jurisdiction -- Issue preservation and standards of review -- The brief: selecting issues and finding a winning argument -- The brief: research and use of authorities -- The brief: stating the issue(s) and point headings -- Writing to win: clear writing, editing and citation form -- The brief: writing your argument -- The brief: the required logical form for each issue -- The brief: statement of the case -- The brief: summary of the argument -- The brief: finalizing and filing the brief, responsive statement -- The brief: a compendium of advice -- Preparing for oral argument -- How appellate lawyers prepare -- Delivering the argument -- Checklists.