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Persuasive Appellate Brief Writing (IL)

Learn from a career appellate staff attorney and an expert appellate practitioner

You may also be interested in:

Appellate Practice Boot Camp Conference: Judical Law Clerks Teach the Do's and Don'ts

Click here for more info.


"I loved - LOVED - the interaction back and forth of the speakers between each other and the audience.  Great format!"  Chris Haaff, Esq.

"Both speakers provided a wonderful seminar, providing hands-on experience with stories and examples for our future reference.  They spoke eloquently & professionally, clearly & thoroughly understanding the topics and giving lots of inside scoop & stories."

"[Speaker] did a great job!  She's a pro!"

"Excellent!  Very clear, interesting presentation with lots of concrete examples illustrating points."  Erica N. Rogina, Esq.

"Very knowledgable - experience showed."

"[Nadine is] quite clear and effective without speaking down.  Tied contents into personal experience well."  Robert Schwaba, Esq.

"I learned more than I expected to - great examples!"

"Good motivation!"

"[Speaker is] an excellent, engaging speaker."

"I found the practical tips based on personal experience helpful."

"Excellent presentation format - encouraging audience participation."

"Great job!  Very good presentation and very professional."

What attorneys have said about this program in California:

"The only good legal seminar I have attended since I became an attorney eight years ago."

"Enjoyed the presentation very much. No wasted time." Maureen Pacheco, Esq.

"Not only did I learn tips crucial for appellate brief writing, I learned tips that are crucial to trial brief writing!" Jully Pae, Esq.

"The program made drafting an appellate brief seem doable."

"This program was really as nearly perfect as any I've ever attended." Tyna Orren, Esq.

"The written materials were fantastic!"


Dates and Times

To Be Announced


Course Summary

This seminar will show you how to draft a clear, persuasive appellate brief in both federal and state appellate courts. Written advocacy is a critical component of your practice and this is a unique opportunity to learn from an experienced appellate practitioner and a court attorney how best to present your arguments. Both new and experienced appellate practitioners will gain valuable insight into effective legal writing. This seminar will provide concrete and practical tips for writing a persuasive appellate brief, from the cover page to the conclusion.

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Topics to be covered in this seminar include:

  • How to minimize the time you spend drafting an appellate brief
  • How to please the three audiences for every brief
  • How to present the facts to tell your client’s story
  • Why the standard of review is important
  • How to improve your argument headings
  • Why you should give the court a clear road map of your argument
  • How to structure and develop winning arguments
  • How to avoid some common pitfalls in using legal authority
  • Why the format and mechanics of an appellate brief matter
  • How to use the conclusion to get what you want
  • Tips for more effective writing
  • How to edit your own writing and the writing of others
  • Practical tips from the bench and the bar

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CLE Specialization Credit

Pincus Professional Education certifies that this seminar has been approved for 4.0 MCLE Appellate Specialization credits in California.

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MCLE Credit

Pincus Professional Education certifies that this seminar has been approved for 4.0 MCLE credits in Illinois and California.

Upon request, we will assist attorneys in asking for CLE credit in other states.

 

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Instructors

Faculty:

Michele M. Jochner, Esq.
Judicial Law Clerk
Illinois Supreme Court

Ms. Jochner currently serves as a judicial law clerk to Justice Charles E. Freeman of the Illinois Supreme Court.  Ms. Jochner formerly served as a judicial law clerk to Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow of the Illinois Supreme Court from 1987 until Justice McMorrow’s retirement in July, 2006.              

Ms. Jochner has served as an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School and at DePaul University College of Law.   She has authored over 70 articles on a wide array of legal topics appearing in publications nationwide.  Her most recent law review article, Survey of Illinois Law: Search & Seizure Decisions, appeared in the summer 2006 edition of the Southern Illinois University Law Journal.  She has also extensively lectured on legal topics across the state, and has appeared on several cable television programs discussing law-related issues. In addition, Ms. Jochner is listed in several Who’s Who publications, and was recognized in 2004 as one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.                                               

Throughout her career, Ms. Jochner has also been actively involved in numerous bar association activities and has served in several leadership roles.  She has just completed a six-year term as an elected member of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and was Secretary of the ISBA for 2006-2007.  Ms. Jochner has also been very active in planning and coordinating various continuing legal education programs for the ISBA, and, most recently, has been involved with the ISBA’s Solo and Small Firm Conference.  Ms. Jochner chaired the inaugural planning committee for the Conference in 2005, and continued in that capacity in 2006.  She is a former chair of the ISBA’s General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Section Council, a co-editor of the ISBA’s Bench & Bar Newsletter, and has been active in a number of other ISBA committees, including the Board’s Committee on Scope and Correlation, the Budget & Audit Committee, the Judicial Evaluations Committee and the Special Committee for Minority Outreach.  Ms. Jochner is also a record-holding seven-time recipient of the ISBA’s Lincoln Award for Legal Writing, and is a Fellow of the Illinois Bar Foundation.              

Ms. Jochner is also active with the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), where she serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the CBA’s Alliance for Women, and is a member of the Editorial Board of the CBA Record.  She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, where she was recently elected to the officer position of Recording Secretary.  In addition, Ms. Jochner is a member of the DePaul University College of Law Alumni Board, as well as of the Boards of Directors for the “Women Everywhere: Partners in Service Project” and the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network.  She serves as a member of the Leader Council for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and is the Vice-Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Chicago Alumni Chapter.  

Ms. Jochner received her bachelor’s degree summa cum laude from Mundelein College in 1987, and is a 1990 graduate of DePaul University College of Law, where she received her J.D. with Honors and was elected to the Order of the Coif.  In 1992, she also earned an L.LM degree from DePaul.                                                                           

(Due to unforseen circumstances, Nadine J. Wichern substituted for Patricia Spratt, Shareholder, Shefsky & Froelich, Ltd.)

Nadine J. Wichern, Esq.
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Appeals Division, City of Chicago Department of Law

Nadine J. Wichern is an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Appeals Division of the City of Chicago Department of Law.  In that capacity, Nadine represents the City, its officials, and its employees in cases before state and federal reviewing courts. Nadine previously served for five years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Appeals Division of the Illinois Attorney General's Office. 

In March 2005, Nadine completed a term as a United States Supreme Court Fellow through the National Association of Attorneys General in Washington, D.C.  As a fellow, she participated in moot courts, attended oral arguments, and filed an amici curiae brief on behalf of twenty-one states regarding the dormant commerce clause in ATA v. Michigan Public Serv. Comm'n. 

Nadine has also taught appellate advocacy, a required course for second-year law students at Loyola University School of Law, for seven years, and has taught a legal writing course at DePaul University College of Law. 

Immediately after graduating from law school, Nadine served as a law clerk to the Honorable William J. Bauer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.  During law school, Nadine also externed for Judge Bauer for two semesters, was awarded six CALI awards, was chosen for Order of the Coif, and was the Managing Editor of Notes and Comments for the DePaul Law Review.  Prior to attending law school, Nadine earned her bachelor's degree in both history and political science, with a minor in English.

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What attendees have said about this seminar:


"The speakers did a very good job.  Their extensive experience came through."  Michael P. Hannigan, Esq.

"[Materials were] excellent - especially the checklists."  Linda Kagan, Esq.

"Very specific useful examples."  Erica N. Rogina, Esq.

"Quite good."

"The examples are very helpful."

"A positive experience!"

"Materials are very helpful for the presentation."

"Very practical."

"Nice presentation.  The speakers were very knowledgable."

"Great speakers!  Very personable.  I felt like [speaker] was having a conversation rather than lecturing."  Tanisha Jones, Esq.

"[Speaker's] perspective as a reader of briefs was helpful."

"Good detail!"

"Very helpful for inexperienced appellate attorneys."

"Very smart.  Really good job."

"Dynamic speaker."

"Strong in knowledge and experience."  Geri Gashkoff, Esq.

What attorneys have said about this program in California:

"One of the best I've attended"

"I thoroughly enjoyed this seminar. I thought it was well organized and well thought out / practiced."

"The seminar was very well organized and direct in addressing how the techniques would lead to a desirable outcome when used, and the consideration as to why they work."

"Excellent program, excellent speakers."

"Good review of basic appellate brief writing. Very clear-hit all important points. Lots of good tips."

"Overall, a really good seminar." Jane Reid

"Both presenters are excellent. Presentations were clear, concise, and easy to follow."

"Great examples-never a dull moment during the presentation."

"Taught me some new things I will definitely use in my next brief. Great speakers for clarity."

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Terms & Policies

Seminar, Webinar, Webcast Registration and Attendance Terms & Policies

Recording policy: No audio or video recording of any program is permitted.

Seminar Cancellations: Should you be unable to attend for any reason, please inform us in writing no later than 14 days prior to the event (7 days prior for webinars, tele-seminars and webcasts) and a credit voucher will be issued. If you prefer, a refund, less a $50 non-refundable deposit, will be issued. No refunds or credits will be given for cancellations received within 14 days of an event (7 days for webinars, tele-seminars and webcasts). If for any reason you cannot attend the a webinar, tele-seminar or webcast after the 7 day cancellation deadline, we will automatically convert your registration to an instant streaming/instant download or CD format and provide you with the information you need to access the recording after the program concludes and the recording is available.

Substitutions may be made at any time. Click here to contact us.

Webinars, Tele-seminars and Webcast Cancellations: Once log-in codes and passwords are issued for a webinar, tele-seminars or webcasts, a refund is not possible. If for any reason you cannot attend the event after you have received the codes, we will automatically convert your registration to an instant streaming/instant download or CD format and provide you with the information you need to access the recording after the program concludes and the recording is available.

Return/Refund Policy for Tapes/CDs/DVDs

Tapes, CDs and DVDs are returnable for a full refund or replacement if defective, within 90 days of purchase. Click here to contact us.

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