Study

This course offers students a comprehensive introduction to appellate practice and procedure, with a strong emphasis on the knowledge and skills essential to effective advocacy before appellate courts. Taught by Judge Allegra Collins of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the course blends doctrinal instruction with practical training to prepare students for real-world appellate litigation.

Topics include initiating and perfecting an appeal, standards of review, preservation of issues, jurisdiction, relief pending appeal, the record on appeal, and the full spectrum of appellate filings—from motions to petitions to briefs. Students will also receive instruction in written and oral advocacy, culminating in the opportunity to present an oral argument before a federal judge.

Assignments are designed to simulate the work of appellate practitioners and include drafting a notice of appeal, a motion, a brief, and a petition. Throughout the semester, students will benefit from the insights of experienced appellate attorneys and judges who will join the class to discuss the profession and the appellate process from the inside.

This course provides an excellent foundation for students interested in competing in the Dean’s Cup, participating in Duke’s Appellate Litigation Clinic, pursuing judicial clerkships, or developing a career in appellate law. The Fall 2024 syllabus is representative of the structure and assignments used in the course; an updated version will be provided closer to the start of the semester.

Fall 2025

Course Number	Course Credits	Evaluation Method	Instructor
405.01	3	Simulated Writing, Litigation	Allegra Collins
Canvas site: https://canvas.duke.edu/courses/65599