Course

Introduction to Appellate Litigation

Time limit: 90 days

$50 Enroll

Full course description

Course Description

This session will introduce the student to appellate litigation in the United States. We will cover the organization and jurisdiction of the United States Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court, including the considerations that inform Supreme Court review of lower federal and state court decisions. The session will next cover the key elements of appellate litigation: the decision to appeal, preparation of the briefs and record, and oral argument. Finally, we will study a case argued by the instructor and decided in the United States Supreme Court, Crosby v. National Foreign Trade Council, 530 U.S. 363 (2000) (striking down Massachusetts law restricting state entities from buying goods or services from companies doing business with Myanmar (Burma)).

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will understand the respective jurisdictions of the federal and state appellate courts of the United States.
  • Participants will understand the procedures followed by lawyers and judges in the argument and decision of appeals in the courts of the United States.
  • Participants will understand the law and procedure followed by the United States Supreme Court, by study of a case decided by that court.

Estimated Time to Complete

2 Hours

Instructions for Successful Completion

Participants have 90 days to complete the course online after registration. To successfully complete the course and receive a certificate, participants must 1) read the Learning Objectives; 2) participate in the course; and 3) complete the course evaluation at the end of the course. After successfully completing the evaluation participants will be able to access their certificate of course completion.

You must be at least 18 years old to participate in the Insights courses. All sales are final; we are not able to offer refunds. Registrations may not be transferred to another person or to another course, workshop, or program.

Course Instructor

Thomas Barnico
Adjunct Professor
Boston College Law School

Read instructor bio