CLE

NCAJ Skills Academy | New Developments in Legal Writing and Appellate Advocacy

Fri, November 5, 2021   |   8:55 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.   |  
Virtual
  |   CLE Hours: 6.0 CLE Hours

This Skills Academy will bring practitioners up to date on recent developments in appellate practice and procedure and focus on how lawyers can improve their legal writing at every stage of litigation.  The seminar is appropriate for both experienced appellate lawyers and trial lawyers who want to improve their writing and gain a general familiarity with appellate litigation.

Registration includes electronic materials and 6.0 CLE hours.

Speakers & Topics

8:55 a.m. Welcoming Remarks by Program Chair

Bonnie Keith Green, The Green Firm, PLLC, Charlotte

9 a.m. Approaches to Eliminating Legalese and Simplifying Your Legal Writing

Christopher Brook, Patterson Harkavy, Chapel Hill
Jon Ward, Pinto Coates Kyre & Bowers, Greensboro

Christopher Brook, a former North Carolina Court of Appeals Judge and the former director of the ACLU of North Carolina, and Jon Ward, an NCAJ member who has litigated numerous appeals and written many amicus briefs on behalf of NCAJ, will discuss how to simplify your legal writing to create more persuasive briefs and improve pleadings, demand letters, and other documents.

10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. The New Appellate Style Manual and Universal Citations

Caitlin A. Mitchell, Nexsen Pruet, Raleigh

The editor of the April 2021 revision to the North Carolina Appellate Style Manual will discuss changes to the Style Manual and will give guidance on North Carolina’s switch to universal citations.

11:45 a.m. Lunch
12:45 a.m. The New Chief

The Honorable Donna Stroud, Chief Judge, North Carolina Court of Appeals, Raleigh

Chief Judge Stroud will discuss developments in the North Carolina Court of Appeals since her investiture as Chief Judge.

1:45 p.m. Panel Discussion: Improving Your Writing at Every Stage of Litigation to Prevail on Appeal

The Honorable Anita Earls, Supreme Court of North Carolina, Raleigh
The Honorable Toby Hampson, North Carolina Court of Appeals, Raleigh
The Honorable Richard Dietz, North Carolina Court of Appeals, Raleigh
Moderator: Erwin Byrd, North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Raleigh

The panel will discuss the process of reviewing a record on appeal and how writing at each stage of litigation—from complaint, answer, discovery, motions, and appellate briefs—impacts the ultimate outcome of an appeal.

3:15 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Oral Argument Before the Supreme Court of North Carolina

The Honorable Amy L. Funderburk, Clerk of Court, Supreme Court of North Carolina, Raleigh
M.C. Hackney, Assistant Clerk of Court, Supreme Court of North Carolina, Raleigh

Learn about the procedures for oral argument in the North Carolina Supreme Court and the use of exhibits and new technology at oral argument.

4:30 p.m. Adjourn
Virtual Registration
Event Rates
Regular Rates
290.00 NCAJ Member
250.00 NCAJ Attorney Member (2-5 years licensure)
185.00 NCAJ Public Service Member
140.00 NCAJ Legal Assistant Member
99.00 NCAJ New Admittee Member
390.00 Non-Member
185.00 NCAJ Retired Member