Career Pathway for Appellate AdvocacyThis pathway draws upon the extensive curricular offerings at the School of Law to suggest a course of study, with an emphasis in the areas of skills training and advanced study of constitutional law, which offers strong preparation for a career in appellate advocacy. However, in addition to making appropriate selections for coursework in law school and engaging in meaningful participation in skills-based extracurricular activities, it is important to remember that this career pathway can often require a number of years of experience in post-graduate legal settings. Specifically, students interested in appellate advocacy would be well-advised to seek appellate judicial clerkships after law school graduation if at all possible. In addition, work in government offices, such as the Attorney General’s office, the State’s Attorney’s office, or the Public Defenders’ office, can often be an avenue to appellate practice. These opportunities can also be available through practice with nonprofit advocacy organizations and private law firms, so students with an interest in this field should inquire about the possibilities for appellate practice with prospective employers. Often, employers who maintain appellate practices will be interested in law graduates with Law Review and/or moot court experience, and with top grades, so these credentials can certainly be helpful, although not necessarily required. Law School Courses:
UND School of Law Faculty Contact: Kirsten Dauphinais |
