When to bring in an appeals attorney

A recent win on appeal

I recently won a quick and good result on appeal. This case in particular illustrates the importance of making your record for appeal, a fact appellate lawyers know to their core. This recent victory also illustrates the importance of bringing in an appellate lawyer sooner, rather than later, to prepare for the appeal. An appellate lawyer can ensure that an legal error (or legal issue) is properly preserved for appeal. An appellate lawyer will also be familiar with the various standards of review applicable on appeal.

What was unusual about this recent case, is that the trial lawyer accurately predicted she could win three important but difficult rulings, and she associated me early on to help her make the best possible record in anticipation of the other side’s threatened appeal. Working together, we ensured that the proper law was applied for each legal issue, and we further furnished the trial court with concise and forceful, legal and factual arguments, on each legal issue, enabling the trial court to rule in our favor on all three difficult issues.

As expected, the other side appealed. Our response on appeal was (a) that the trial court applied the correct law when deciding each of the three legal issues raised on appeal, (b) the trial court record was inadequate to reach the other side’s first two legal issues, and (3) the trial court did not abuse its discretion on the third legal issue. In sum, we successfully defended all three key rulings in our client’s favor because we prepared for the appeal while we were still in the trial court. The appeal was won in great part because of what we did in the trial court. This is but one example of what an appellate lawyer can contribute while a case is still before the trial court.

Another case soon going up on appeal

I was recently retained in another new case, where the other side is attempting to set aside the parties’ judgment. The trial lawyer in this new case recommended to his client that I be added to the legal team, for at least three reasons. First, he wants to win, and he volunteered that appellate lawyers are more familiar with the legal standards applicable to set-aside motions. Second, he wants to make the best record possible, in anticipation of an appeal, because the other side is already threatening to appeal if they lose their motion to set aside the judgment. And third, if there is an appeal, he wants to defend it as the respondent on appeal, not file it as the appellant on appeal. As I write this, I know very little about this new case, but I well know my role as appellate attorney – here we go again – let’s win, and if not, let’s ensure we make the best record possible for appeal.

Associating an appeals attorney before there is an appeal

My point, of course, is that appellate lawyers can do more for you if we are involved sooner than you might think. Here are a few thoughts for your consideration:

Before and during trial

Occasionally, appellate attorneys will be working in the background during trial preparation and trial, as illustrated by the two cases discussed above. Appellate attorneys are also involved in larger cases, those with ample budgets, and the need for several attorneys just to get the case to trial. If there are several attorneys preparing your case for trial, it makes sense that one of them should have appellate experience, to round-out the team.

After trial, but before judgment

More often, appellate lawyers are brought in soon after a loss in the trial court, to help prepare the judgment, in anticipation of an appeal. I often characterize the preparation of the judgment as the interface between the trial and the appeal. By this point, the outcome of the trial is known, and remaining task is to reduce various trial court rulings and findings to a written judgment. There is much work to be done, and many considerations in anticipation of the appeal. The terms of the proposed judgment are extremely important, and any disagreements will be resolved by the trial court, creating one more opportunity to improve the record for appeal. If execution on the judgment (i.e., collection efforts) is a further concern, the timing of the entry of the judgment, and preparation and filing of the bonding to stay (prevent) execution on the judgment, is also important, if not urgent. An award of attorney fees may also be an issue and, if so, this presents another consideration for appeal. After trial, but before judgment, there is plenty to do, and this type of work is often done by, or with the assistance of, appellate lawyers.

After judgment

Most often perhaps, appellate lawyers are brought in after entry of judgment, to prepare the notice of appeal, before time runs out to do so. At this point, an appellate lawyer can handle the bonding necessary to stay execution of the judgment, and also take the case up on appeal, but the opportunity to improve the record and the judgment for appeal, will have passed.

How to evaluate when to involve an appeals attorney

Most cases will not go up on appeal, and experienced trial lawyers will quickly recognize these cases. Other cases, predictable in nature, and handled by experienced trial lawyers, may not justify or require an appellate lawyer. However, in those cases where an appeal is threatened, likely, or certain, the question is not whether to bring in an appellate lawyer, but when. Each case is different. Consult an appellate lawyer whenever an appeal is foreseeable, or likely. Most appellate lawyers will have this initial discussion with you at no cost, so make the call, to determine what will work best in your case.