The Appellate Project (TAP)’s Post

This symposium offers an expansive survey of the touchpoints and tensions of restorative justice (RJ) and the criminal legal system as well as how restorative justice is practiced and implemented in jurisdictions across the nation. Participants will hear from thought leaders in the field, gain access to resources to inform policy decisions and advance restorative practices, and understand the growing restorative justice movement alongside the criminal legal landscape. There is no cost to attending. Panel 1: Restorative Justice: The Movement, The Legal System, The Future. Panel 2: Why Choose RJ? Panel 3: Brass Tacks: Implementing Restorative Justice as Diversion Policy

U.S. law school enrollment stabilizes amid historic racial diversity surge.  Explore the shifting dynamics of legal education and the pursuit of diversity! Read more! https://lnkd.in/gSgJdUAM #LawSchool #LegalEducation #DiversityInLaw #LegalInsights #LawStudents

This great piece, published in NC and SC Lawyer's Weekly, highlights how expanding licensed paraprofessionals can help improve access to justice for the unrepresented big middle. It's worth the read!

Law students, Even though almost every appellate court case starts in a trial court, law school does little to help you become a better oral advocate. If you speak to a jury (or any group), work on these three things: 1. Primacy and recency - people remember what they hear first and last. 2. Plant your feet - movement is distracting. Don't pace. If possible, get out from behind the lectern and stand before the jury. 3. Anger is not your friend - even if you have a case that engenders anger, let the jury come to that emotion. You risk turning off your jury if you are angry. Why three? Because people are naturally drawn to trilogies, these three tips are a powerful trio that can significantly enhance your oral advocacy skills. #lawstudents

Seeking insights into trial practice and a journey from litigator to magistrate? U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis M. Cota shares his story, from shaggy-haired law student to respected jurist. Read how his passion for law took root, shaped by teaching at UC Davis School of Law and decades in civil litigation. Discover his unique path to the bench, balancing settlement conferences and criminal cases across the vast Eastern District of California. Dive into his insights on fairness, civility, and the challenges of remote judicial service. Don't miss out on this captivating narrative! Subscribers only https://ow.ly/3qSu50RAEg9 #LegalInsights #JudicialJourney #TrialPractice #Litigation #LawCareer

Meet 3L Wenqing Zhu! In our #WhatMattersToMeAndWhy series, Wenny shares what motivates her, how the Community and Economic Development Clinic has been one of the most rewarding experiences she’s had at law school, and offers her advice to prospective students thinking of pursuing a law degree.  Read her Q&A: https://bit.ly/3sjvTuG

Here's how five Michigan law schools stack up.

In the weekly edition of Law.com's Bench Report, Katie Barrett Wiik, co-chair of Saul Ewing LLP’s appellate practice, shared her thoughts about what the long-term impact could be of the decline in jury trials and, presumably, appeals stemming from jury verdicts. She shares a concern about the decrease in jury trials and how it could affect lawyer training, democracy and the development of the law. However, she also questioned whether some trial-specific issues may be static and don’t need to be appealed due to existing, decades-old guidance. “On the one hand, the procedural aspects of how you preserve arguments, jury instructions or the admissibility of experts through the Daubert standard, I think that those areas of law are relatively stable and haven’t changed dramatically in the last few decades,” she said. “But is that the cause or the effect?” To read the full article, visit: https://lnkd.in/e2hmv2Rq #JuryTrials #Appeals #Trial

Institute of Continuing Legal Education─MI's "Approaching the Bench" blog series gives Michigan lawyers a chance to hear directly from judges about how their courtrooms function. If you practice in front of Judge David Allen of the Wayne County Third Circuit Court, I recommend you give the latest installment a read. You'll get some great tips for effective brief-writing and oral argument strategy.