what is the training/career opportunities for a criminal appellate lawyer?

Question

tell me info on becoming a criminal appellate lawyer -- skills needed, typical day, hours? etc. is there money to be made in this field of law, is it personally rewarding? I would potentially be in the NY, NJ area is there alot of job opportunities, b/c I never see advertisements for this type of lawyer...what's the best way to get into this field. thank you!

Answer 1

First, you'd need to go to law school -- graduate, then pass the bar exam in whatever states you wanted to practice.

Then, you'd need to go into criminal defense for a few years, and get an understanding of criminal trial work. Then, you'd need to specialize in writing and arguing appeals.

There is always a need for appellate attorneys, especially in the criminal defense arena. However, it's almost always hourly work -- meaning that you charge by the hour whether you win or lose -- which means the client needs to be able to pay your fees, which is not alwys the case in appellate work.

But that also means the income is more consistent -- if you can get clients -- than some civil plaintiff's work -- where you can collect percentages of huge damages awards in personal injury or products liability cases.

The thing about appellate work is that you really need to love the structure of the law and the ways rules work -- it's very different than litigation, where half of what you are arguing are facts and opinions.