Appellate Advocacy

Course Information

Registration Information

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
THU 4:15 - 7:05 pm TNH 3.127

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
None

Description

 

This three-hour course teaches advanced, judge-centered, jurisprudence-driven appellate advocacy. Students represent an assigned party in a hypothetical case that progresses from final judgment in the trial court, through the court of appeals, to the Supreme Court of Texas. The class focuses on instilling the best possible judgment in the identification, development, and presentation of winning legal arguments via brief writing and oral argument. Lectures teach specific oral and written advocacy techniques and principles, infused with perspectives of leading appellate practitioners and the appellate judiciary, using real world examples. Students are graded on their application of these techniques and principles to the hypothetical case. Students must complete all assignments to receive credit. Major assignments include a brief in a Texas court of appeals, a petition for review in the Supreme Court of Texas, and multiple oral arguments. The course also touches on appellate procedure, ethics, mandamus practice, and the identification, development, and presentation of winning legal arguments in trial courts. The class meets once each week. There is no midterm and no final exam.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

The Blue Book: A Uniform System of Citation (optional)
Harvard Law Review
edition: 20
ISBN: 9780692400197
Texas Rules of Form: The Greenbook (optional)
Texas Law Review
edition: 14
ISBN: 9781878674104
Materials Provided by Instructors *
Manual on Usage and Style (optional)
Texas Law Review
edition: 14
ISBN: 1-878674-58-7

Instructors

Headshot of Roach, Robert M. Jr. Roach, Robert M. Jr.
Headshot of Campbell, David J. Campbell, David J.
Headshot of Schumacher, Amy J. Schumacher, Amy J.
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Important Class Changes

Date Updated
07/25/2019 Instructor(s) updated