The Appellate Project (TAP)

To all our former mentees and alumni, congratulations if you're just completing a clerkship or summer position! Remember, even though your time in our Mentorship Program is over, you'll be a member of our community throughout your legal career and life. Come meet the rest of this incredible community -- join us on September 12 in D.C. to celebrate four years of impactful work toward diversifying our highest courts. Enjoy a conversation with the Honorable Paul J. Watford and our founder, Juvaria S. Khan, plus door prizes, food, and mingling! All are welcome, but you must buy your ticket (discounted tickets available for TAP students, alumni, and current students) by Thursday here: 👉 👉 👉 https://lnkd.in/eCPDGQDQ We can’t wait to celebrate with you! #TAP4Impact #celebration #AppellateLinkedIn

On Women's Equality Day, we commemorate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, a milestone in the fight for women's voting rights. This day reminds us of the ongoing journey towards true equality in all spheres, including the legal field. At TAP, we are dedicated to creating a more diverse appellate bar that truly reflects America. Together we are paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable legal system. #WomensEqualityDay #19thAmendment #suffragettes #AppellateLinkedIn

TAP has grown so much in our first four years, and our impact is felt throughout the appellate bar. There are so many incredible students and volunteers in our community who have made that possible. It's time to celebrate! With just 9 days left to purchase tickets, make sure you plan on joining us on September 12 in D.C. as we celebrate four years of diversifying our highest courts. Your support has been crucial to our journey. Enjoy a special conversation with the Honorable Paul J. Watford and our founder and Executive Director, Juvaria S. Khan, along with door prizes, food, and mingling! All are welcome but discounted tickets are available for TAP students, alumni, and current students. Purchase tickets by August 29 here: 👉👉👉 https://lnkd.in/eU4-9Hbt Be part of this meaningful celebration. #lawyer #appellate #appeal #lawstudents #community #anniversary

"The [clerkship] process itself can be very discouraging, especially for lawyers of color, and diverse lawyers. It can be a tough uphill battle, but just know all you need is one yes." -- Megan M., judicial law clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and TAP alum Applying to clerkships can feel daunting, but remember - just one "yes" is all it takes! Didn't receive a flurry of emails and interview requests after applying through OSCAR? Don't worry - you only need one offer. Focus on your unique journey and avoid comparing yourself to others. There's no single path to landing a clerkship. Download our free Clerkship Handbook today (at: https://lnkd.in/eHHrr3vP) for more tips, then listen to Megan and other appellate attorneys talk about their unique paths to securing a clerkship at the podcast link in our comments. #clerkship #nextgen #HowILawyer #careerpaths #appellateLinkedIn

We are proud to be included amongst the incredible grantees of California ChangeLawyers. Thank you for amplifying our mission and for all your support! #legalchangemakers #AppellateLinkedIn

Understanding your "why" is crucial in tough times—it keeps you grounded and motivated. Law school is tough, pushing you to your limits. In those moments, remember your "why"—the reason you chose this path. Every late-night study session and challenging case analysis shapes you into a future legal advocate. Your "why" is your guiding light, reminding you of your purpose: to make a difference and seek justice. As you head back to (or are just starting) law school, embrace the journey, lean on your peers, and keep moving toward your goals. You've got this! #purpose #motivation #AppellateLinkedIn

Are you curious how improv classes, diverse experiences, and work-life balance could shape your appellate public defense career? If you missed our July 18th webinar in collaboration with the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, hear a few pieces of advice the four talented public defenders (Carrie Darden, Caprice Jenerson, Cristina Najarro, and Areeba Jibril) shared to prepare for a career in appellate public defense: * Look for nontraditional ways to practice skills. For example, take an improv class to practice public speaking. * Don't discount your skills or experiences. Skills you may have adapted through opportunities outside of appellate work, such as creative writing, could help you break into the space. * Having a good work-life balance is important, as working in public defense can take a toll on you emotionally. Be sure to set aside some time to do things that you like. #PublicDefense #AppellateLinkedIn #CareerPaths

Since launching four years ago, TAP has achieved more than we could have imagined. Our alumni are already bringing their voices to the laws in our highest courts, from federal appellate courts to state supreme courts, and major appellate law firms to appellate public defender agencies. Our network has blossomed into a vibrant community of judges, lawyers, law clerks, and academics who are all passionate advocates for our mission. We know that our mission to diversify our highest courts is more important than ever. We have already learned so much on how to successfully build impactful programming, and we are excited to apply this knowledge towards our long-term vision: creating an appellate system where the lawyers, judges, and legal decisions each reflect the rich diversity of all of our communities. No more decisions about us, without us. To ensure we are best supporting our rapidly growing community, we will temporarily scale back our events this year to apply our learnings as we build the next stage of our work. We will pause on admitting a new class of mentees this fall for the 2024-2025 academic year. This pause will give us the opportunity to refine and strengthen our programming, ensuring it delivers even greater impact and value for future participants. We will continue to provide resources and programming to our network of 600+ alumni, and there will still be many other ways to get involved with TAP. Find more information here on our website: https://lnkd.in/ekE7bbTj Together, let’s build an appellate system that truly represents all of our voices. #NextGen #RepresentationMatters #Lawyers #LawStudents #Courts #MentoringMatters

Internships aren’t just a chance for students to gain experience—they also infuse organizations with fresh perspectives and new ideas. We're pleased to introduce you to our summer intern, Neya Garcia! She is a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Political Science and Human Organizational Leadership and Development. After completing her undergrad, she hopes to attend law school. Neya shared this about her experience: "Interning at TAP has been incredibly inspiring! I have enjoyed hearing from the many volunteers and mentees who are incredibly passionate about diversifying the appellate field. Working directly alongside Juvaria Khan, Executive Director and Founder, and Jeorjet Reyes, Associate, has been particularly enlightening, providing insight into the day-to-day operations of nonprofit management and the appellate field as a whole. I deeply appreciate my time at TAP and the many volunteers who make this organization so great!" We can't wait to see where you soar next, Neya! #MentoringMatters #AppellateLinkedIn #nextgen

TAP has grown so much in our first four years, and our impact is felt throughout the appellate bar. There are so many incredible students and volunteers in our community who have made that possible. It's time to celebrate! In just 30 days from today, you can do just that! Join us on Thursday, September 12, in Washington, D.C., as we mark four years of impactful work toward diversifying our highest courts. Don't miss a special conversation with the Honorable Paul Watford and our founder, Juvaria Khan. Enjoy door prizes, food, and mingling! Your support has been instrumental in our journey! All are welcome, and discounted tickets are available for TAP students, alumni, and current students. Purchase by August 29 here: https://lnkd.in/eCPDGQDQ Be part of this meaningful celebration. #WeAreTAP #community #AppellateLinkedIn