Federal Appellate Litigation Clinic

The purpose of the clinic is to provide an opportunity for law students to gain experience representing actual clients in existing federal appellate litigation and in meeting the standards of professionalism required in practice. Students will also further develop and strengthen their written and oral advocacy skills. In addition, the Clinic affords law students, and the law school, an opportunity to provide quality legal representation to an underserved community, i.e., pro se appellants, and to assist the Third Circuit by accepting court appointments.

Students will handle all aspects of representation for an assigned appeal including: ensuring that the appeal has been perfected procedurally; researching the substantive issues; preparing any interim motions or correspondence for the court and/or client, including regular client status reports; drafting appellate briefs; and presenting oral argument before the Third Circuit.

Students will also attend a weekly two-hour seminar in which they will be assigned readings on the procedural aspects of federal appellate litigation, preparing the appellate brief, and presenting oral argument. Students will also be assigned noteworthy cases and other readings on immigration law, habeas corpus litigation, constitutional law, and prisoners’ rights. Guest speakers, including local appellate practitioners, judges, and law clerks, will be invited to address the seminar.