How the Cal. Appellate Project Promotes Appellate Experience and Access to Justice

The California Appellate Law Podcast

There is a 700-appellate case backlog in Los Angeles and only around 450 attorneys on the California Appellate Project—Los Angeles panel. CAP-LA attorneys Jennifer Hansen and Jennifer Peabody share how the rest of us can pitch in to assuage this gap in the administration of justice.

Why work as a panel attorney?

• Get appellate experience.
• Work with an experienced appellate attorney.
• Flexible schedules, remote work, and mentorship.
• While rates are modest, they may be increasing. And there are no client-trust concerns, and CAP-LA covers malpractice insurance.
• Grow your reputation and rapport with colleagues and the bench.
• Make a meaningful difference in clients' lives.

Tune in to hear how appellate attorneys can make a profound impact while building their careers and enhancing their reputations in the legal community.

Jennifer Hansen biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed.

Jennifer Peabody biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed.

Appellate Specialist Jeff Lewis' biography, LinkedIn profile, and Twitter feed.

Appellate Specialist Tim Kowal's biography, LinkedIn profile, Twitter feed, and YouTube page.

Sign up for Not To Be Published, Tim Kowal’s weekly legal update, or view his blog of recent cases.

Other items discussed in the episode:

Below are links to all five project websites and the application for each. Panel Application Links:

• First District Appellate Project: https://www.fdap.org/about/applying-to-the-panel/
• Sixth District Appellate Project: https://sdap.org/about/panel-application/
• Central California Appellate Program: https://capcentral.org/about/how-to-apply/
• Appellate Defenders Inc: https://www.adi-sandiego.com/panel-attorneys/how-to-become-a-panel-attorney/
• California Appellate Project - LA: https://cap-la.org/apply/

Examples of online resources for appointed attorneys are below:

• Samples bank: https://capcentral.org/resources/motion/
• Practice Guide: https://www.adi-sandiego.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Manual-4th-Edition-Oct-2024.pdf
• Appointed Appellate Attorney Community: www.cadc.net