The Appellate Project (TAP)

Big news! Founding TAP board member and longtime TAP mentor Amir H. Ali has been confirmed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, making history as the first Arab-American Muslim judge on this court. This milestone reflects the progress toward ensuring our highest courts represent all our communities and underscores the importance of diverse voices and perspectives in our legal system. Judge Ali is an experienced civil rights appellate litigator who opened the MacArthur Justice Center's Washington, D.C. office, built up its Supreme Court and Appellate Program, and later became its president and executive director, cementing the organization's position as a national leader in civil rights litigation. Thank you, Judge Ali, for your service to our country and for your commitment to supporting the next generation of appellate lawyers and judges. Please join us in congratulating Judge Ali on this incredible honor! ?? #RepresentationMatters #AppellateLinkedIn #CivilRights #NextGen

The numbers speak for themselves! Through our Mentorship Program, we’re working to build the next generation of the appellate bar—one that truly reflects America. With 122 law students from 53 schools, 33% of whom were first-gen college graduates, and 96% were first-gen law students, we’re breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities in appellate law. After completing the program: 83% felt more confident about pursuing appellate work 90% felt empowered to pursue clerkships Also, our community continued to support one another, with 59 alumni and 102 mentors in the Alumni Mentorship Program, and over 50 volunteers serving as speakers or guests at the 24 events we held throughout the Program. Best of all? 97% of our mentors are eager to serve again. Together, we’re creating a more representative appellate bar. #MentoringMatters #nextgen #firstgen

"My wish for students of color in the legal field is to see that every place is our place: tribal benches, federal benches, trial work, appellate work, all of it. There is no place we shouldn’t be." For our second Native American Heritage Month profile, we proudly feature Eldena Bear Dont Walk, Esq., MPA, LLM Don’t Walk, Conflict Defender Division Administrator at the Montana Office Of State Public Defender. We've shared just one excerpt of Eldena's reflections below, but you can read all of her responses on the Our Community page: ?????? https://lnkd.in/eXQ4jgci Q: What advice would you give to a law student of color who aspires to be where you are now? A: Law school is not a measure of success. There will be obstacles. Diligence far outweighs intelligence. There is no one path or one area of law for us. Try them all on and find what you love. I am a criminal defense attorney. I have served many roles in my career, but criminal defense is a passion of mine. Dream bigger! My wish for students of color in the legal field is to see that every place is our place: tribal benches, federal benches, trial work, appellate work, all of it. There is no place we shouldn’t be. But there are limits other people will put on us. Those are their limits, not ours. #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmericans #AppellateLinkedIn #lawschool

This #MotivationalMonday, we are excited to feature appellate superstar and TAP Mentor Dennis Fan, Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Columbia Law School. Q: What's your favorite food? A: Watermelon Q: What advice would you give to an aspiring appellate attorney? A: Be involved in your community and public service. There are aspects of appellate litigation that are easily trainable: analytical rigor, legal research, etc. But the fundamental feature of being an appellate lawyer is the shift in perspective that happens on appeal, and the need to have your argument resonate with different judges. That requires drawing on your deep well of life experiences. Q: What is one of the most important pieces of legal writing advice you've learned or received? A: Read fiction. It should be cliche by now that there's no concrete meaning to the term "legal writing," or at least the features that make writing "legal" are not the ones that make it more persuasive. Observe how the great fiction writers build a world of internal logic (i.e., law) and describe its contours (i.e., facts). There are good reasons why people like reading fiction more than legal briefs. Q: What advice would you give to a law student of color struggling with their confidence or imposter syndrome? A: Thank goodness you don't have the affliction of an outsized self-worth. Really though, I'm not sure why being an imposter is a bad thing. One of the great joys of being a lawyer is that you are always growing, learning, and being placed into new situations. There are of course attendant feelings of inadequacy or anxiety, but grapple with those bugs separately from the feature of being an attorney. #WritingTips #AppellateLinkedIn #impostersyndrome #confidence

Taking time to recharge is essential for long-term success and to keep fighting for your goals, especially in the demanding world of law. This weekend take some time out to celebrate National Hiking Day. Step outside, breathe fresh air, and reconnect with nature. Hiking is a powerful way to clear your head, increase focus, and build resilience, whether you’re preparing for finals or your next big case. #AppellateLinkedIn #Wellbeing #NationalHikingDay

We recently held an event in partnership with TAP sponsor Latham & Watkins LLP, "Behind the Scenes: Supreme Court & Appellate Litigation in BigLaw." Attorneys from the firm, Samir Deger-Sen, Christina Gay, Roman Martinez , and Margaret Allison Upshaw, sat down with our alums to discuss their professional journeys, how to pursue appellate opportunities in BigLaw, and litigate major Supreme Court and appellate cases. Thank you to the panelists for sharing your insights, and to the attendees for your thoughtful questions! #AppellateLinkedIn #BigLaw #careers

"Susan strikes the perfect balance of meeting me where I'm at and challenging me to take ownership of my legal education and career." This is why mentorship truly matters—it empowers the next generation of appellate leaders. Our community is built on this foundation of support and growth, and we love celebrating our members' achievements! Today, we're excited to share news from three of our alumni on their new roles: * Emmalyse Daniels will be a 2L Wetmore Fellow in Morrison Foerster's Tech Transactions Group next summer; * Jaylin D. McClinton ("Jay") joined the Alliance For Justice as a Building The Bench Counsel focused on the judicial nominations and selection process in federal and state courts; * Narintohn Luangrath has been selected as one of three students in Dechert LLP's Federal Appellate Litigation program. Our mentors' impact in shaping the future of the appellate bar is tremendous. Congratulations to all our alumni, and thank you to their mentors for their invaluable guidance! #MentoringMatters #community #AppellateLinkedIn

"[A]dvocate for issues that matter to you and your community. The journey may be challenging, and you may often feel like you are spinning your wheels, but stay focused on your goals." In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we're proud to feature a profile of appellate superstar Stacy Leeds, Dean of Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. We've shared just one excerpt of Dean Leeds's reflections below, but you can read all of her responses on the Our Community page: https://lnkd.in/eXQ4jgci Q: What advice would you give to a law student of color who aspires to be where you are now? A: Be true to yourself and don’t try to change who you are to meet unrealistic external expectations. Your background and experiences are your greatest strengths and your unique perspectives will be at a premium at some point of your career. Most importantly, advocate for issues that matter to you and your community. The journey may be challenging, and you may often feel like you are spinning your wheels, but stay focused on your goals. A wise mentor once told me something that has proven true so many times. 'You can’t always control the timing of opportunities, but you can absolutely control how prepared you will be when that opportunity comes.' #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #NativeAmericans #AppellateLinkedIn #lawschool

Your vote shapes the future. Today, use your voice to elect judges, state officials, and federal leaders who impact our communities and the legal system. Every decision matters, especially in building a diverse and inclusive appellate bar. Your vote can help pave the way for lasting change and representation in the courts. Use your power, make your voice heard, and be a part of shaping the future. #ElectionDay #nextgen #AppellalteLinkedIn

The American justice system is a critical area of the legal profession where Native American representation remains alarmingly low. Native Americans are subject to this system but rarely see themselves reflected in its decision-making roles. According to the ABA, only four active Native American judges currently sit on the federal bench, and just two Native American justices serve on state supreme courts. There has never been a Native American federal circuit court judge appointed. This Native American Heritage Month, we’ll be highlighting the stories of Native American appellate trailblazers making an impact. Stay tuned for their profiles! #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #representationmatters #AppellateLinkedIn