| To be successful in appellate oral arguments, you need to step back and look at a case from an entirely different perspective and tap a very different skill set than you used in the trial court. Some attorneys have trouble moving beyond factual arguments, finding it hard to construct the bridge to a sound legal procedural challenge. Clearly the written brief plays a key role in setting up the appeal. However, you often win or lose a case on your initial presentation to the appellate judge and how you stay focused on giving succinct and poignant answers to the most difficult questions.
That is why even the most accomplished appellate lawyers lean on retired appellate judges or justices for help in preparing and practicing for their appeals. Justice Sandra Schultz Newman uses her experience as a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice to help attorneys identify likely points of contention in their briefs, to anticipate questions that will be asked, to organize the appellate argument, and be primed and ready to give clear, crisp and on-point answers to a judge or justice’s queries.
Justice Newman has supported appellate attorneys early on in cases, sitting down to informally discuss trial strategies and brief preparation. She has also delved deep into the likely questions a judge or justice will ask during oral argument, often pinpointing the vulnerabilities that need to be addressed to win the case. In addition, she has sat during mock appellate arguments where the case is actually argued and then critiqued by Justice Newman, who provides additional constructive feedback and tips on presentation effectiveness. Attorneys who have sought Justice Sandra Schultz Newman’s assistance have reported increased clarity and confidence as they approach appeals on a range of cases in state and federal courts.
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