The Anatomy of an Appeal: Best Appellate Practices in California Courts and the Ninth Circuit (MCLE)

This event originally aired on February 25th, 2025. The handout for this presentation can be found here: https://sandiegolawlibrary.org/wp-con... https://sandiegolawlibrary.org/wp-con... About the Program In this action-packed session, hear from two expert appellate attorneys about the key stages of an appeal. The program will cover: • The start-up phase: appealability, timeliness, the notice of appeal, designating the record, stays/bonds, and extensions of time; • The briefing phase: tips for briefing, including a discussion of civility and persuasive writing; • Oral argument: some mechanics (and key differences in CA state vs. 9th Circuit appeals), and tips on preparing to argue and handling tough questions; • The decision stage: setting expectations and key differences in CA courts vs. the 9th Circuit; and • Post-appeal issues: petitions for panel rehearing or rehearing en banc, seeking review in a Supreme Court (CA or US), attorneys’ fees and costs The goals of this program are to provide an overview of key questions to consider in handling a civil appeal and to share some expert tips to enhance your practice. About the Speakers Johanna Schiavoni is a certified specialist in appellate law, and her practice at Complex Appellate Litigation Group LLP focuses on civil appeals and writs in state and federal courts. She worked as a law clerk for Ninth Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown and Central District of California Judge Christina A. Snyder. She served as the 2020 President of the San Diego County Bar Association and currently serves as Chair of the Ninth Circuit’s Appellate Lawyer Representative Committee. In 2024, Johanna was elected to membership in the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Melanie Gold practices at Complex Appellate Litigation Group, LLP, handling civil appeals and writs in a wide range of practice areas. She previously worked as a lead senior attorney at the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One. She also served as an attorney at the California Supreme Court, and as a litigation associate at Heller Ehrman LLP. She has taught advanced appellate advocacy courses at the University of San Diego School of Law and California Western School of Law. The San Diego Law Library is a State Bar of California licensed MCLE provider. Viewing this class provides 1 hour of GENERAL self-study credit. Attendance certificates are not provided for self-study. Please use this log provided by the State Bar of California to keep a record of your self study: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/d... Provider Information: San Diego County Public Law Library, Provider #11786 If you need this video in an accessible format (audio descriptions, downloadable transcript, etc.) please visit our Accessible Format video playlists or contact us at: https://sandiegolawlibrary.org/report... If you need subtitles, click on the closed caption button at the bottom of the video. The information offered in this short video has been provided as a public service and is intended to provide basic information. This is not legal advice and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. The views expressed in this video belong to the speaker and are not a representation of the San Diego Law Library.