Strategic Use of Amicus Briefs in Appellate Advocacy
Drafting Effective Amicus Briefs; Soliciting and Coordinating Amici Curiae; Working With the Government as Amicus Curiae in Your Case
A live 90-minute CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A
This CLE course will provide practical guidance to appellate attorneys, litigators, and in-house litigation managers on the strategic use of amicus briefs in appellate advocacy. The panel will offer guidance on soliciting and coordinating amicus support, as well as insights and advice on writing amicus briefs and responding to the government when it appears as amicus curiae.
Outline
- Procedural requirements governing amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court and other appellate courts
- Why, when, and how to solicit and coordinate amicus support
- Elements of an effective amicus brief
- The government as amicus curiae
Benefits
The panel will review these and other key issues:
- What strategic considerations affect the decisions on whether to solicit and/or file amicus briefs?
- What are the elements of an effective statement of interest?
- What unique considerations should counsel consider at the discretionary review stage versus the merits stage?
- How can appellate attorneys, trial counsel, and in-house counsel most effectively team on preparation of amicus briefs?
- What special issues are involved when the Solicitor General is invited by the U.S. Supreme Court to file an amicus brief on behalf of the United States? When state attorneys general file as amici curiae?
Faculty
Bennett Evan Cooper
Member and Appeals and Advocacy Practice Group Co-Chair
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Author of Federal Appellate Practice: Ninth Circuit (2015-2016 ed.), a 1,500-page treatise published annually, Mr.... | Read More
Author of Federal Appellate Practice: Ninth Circuit (2015-2016 ed.), a 1,500-page treatise published annually, Mr. Cooper is respected as a leading practitioner before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In addition, he has represented parties and amici curiae in the U.S. Supreme Court and the Second, Third, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh, D.C. and Federal Circuits, as well as various state appellate courts. Mr. Cooper is a past chair of the ABA’s Council of Appellate Lawyers and began his legal career as a law clerk to Ninth Circuit Judge (and later Chief Judge) Alex Kozinski.
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Mary-Christine (M.C.) Sungaila
Partner
Complex Appellate Litigation Group
Ms. Sungaila is an award-winning appellate attorney who has briefed or argued more than 170 appeals. She has... | Read More
Ms. Sungaila is an award-winning appellate attorney who has briefed or argued more than 170 appeals. She has also developed special expertise in appeals involving Holocaust art recovery. Ms. Sungaila has handled appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court, multiple state supreme courts, numerous federal and state appellate courts, and even the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. She is often called to consult during litigation and even prior to the initiation of litigation when an appeal by either side could be inevitable. Before joining CALG, Ms. Sungaila led or co-led appellate practice groups at two different AmLaw 150 law firms, one of the only Hispanic women ever to do so.
CloseEarly Discount (through 08/29/25)
Cannot Attend September 25?
Early Discount (through 08/29/25)
You may pre-order a recording to listen at your convenience. Recordings are available 48 hours after the webinar. Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.
