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Appellate Attorney Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Travis County, TX

Attorney V - VII - Appellate

Granger, TX · On-site +1

$105K - $121K/yr

You will guide assistant county attorneys on appellate strategy, represent the County in expunction and nondisclosure proceedings, and mentor staff and community partners on key justice issues, all ...

Travis County

Attorney V - VII - Appellate

Austin, TX

$105K - $121K/yr

Job Summary The Travis County Attorney's Office is seeking a senior appellate attorney to handle complex civil and criminal appellate matters. This role involves preparing and arguing briefs before ...

Clydeco

Appellate Attorney - Trial & Defense

Miami, FL · Hybrid

$2.0K/mo

Clyde & Co has an opportunity for a Appellate Lawyer for our Miami, FL office. This thriving practice represents insurers in high-stakes disputes and defending insurers in bad faith disputes and ...

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How much do appellate attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for appellate attorney in the United States is $120,815.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,000.00 and $138,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Appellate Attorney vs Litigation Attorney?

AspectAppellate AttorneyLitigation Attorney
CredentialsJurisdiction-specific law degree, bar admission, appellate specializationJurisdiction-specific law degree, bar admission, trial and litigation experience
Work EnvironmentResearch, legal writing, appellate court proceedingsCourtroom appearances, client interactions, trial preparation
Employer & IndustryLaw firms, government agencies, appellate courtsLaw firms, corporations, government agencies, trial courts

Appellate Attorneys focus on handling appeals, legal research, and writing for appellate courts, while Litigation Attorneys manage trials, client advocacy, and courtroom proceedings. Both roles require legal credentials and are integral to the legal process, but they differ in work environment and specific responsibilities.

What Does an Appellate Attorney Do?

An appellate attorney works on cases that are being appealed, or which have received an unfavorable ruling in lower courts. As an appellate attorney, your responsibilities are to research and analyze prior court cases, then draft legal briefs to justify the claim for an appeal. Your duties are to present a court case and persuade a judge to reconsider the ruling of a lower court. As part of the federal or state government, an appellate attorney defends public interest from potentially unfavorable court decisions. Privately, you appeal rulings on behalf of your clients.

What are some common challenges faced by appellate attorneys in managing multiple cases simultaneously?

Appellate attorneys often handle several cases at once, each with its own deadlines and complex legal issues. Balancing the preparation of briefs, oral arguments, and in-depth legal research requires strong organizational skills and careful time management. A key challenge is prioritizing tasks while maintaining the high quality of written arguments, as appeals frequently involve strict procedural rules and detailed analysis. Collaborating with trial attorneys and clients to gather records and clarify factual backgrounds is also essential to building persuasive appeals.

What is an Appellate Attorney?

An Appellate Attorney is a lawyer who specializes in handling cases on appeal, rather than at trial. Their primary role is to review trial records, identify legal errors, and craft persuasive written briefs to present before appellate courts. They may also deliver oral arguments to judges, advocating for their client's position and seeking to overturn or uphold lower court decisions. Appellate attorneys must possess strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills, as their work often involves complex legal issues and precedent. They play a crucial role in shaping the development of the law through appellate court decisions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Appellate Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Appellate Attorney, you need strong legal research, analytical thinking, and written advocacy skills, typically supported by a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and bar admission. Familiarity with legal research databases (such as Westlaw or LexisNexis) and experience with electronic filing systems are important technical requirements. Exceptional attention to detail, persuasive communication, and the ability to synthesize complex legal issues are critical soft skills. These competencies are vital for crafting compelling appellate briefs, understanding nuanced legal arguments, and achieving successful outcomes for clients in higher courts.
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Appellate Attorney jobs near you
Assistant District Attorney (Admitted Attorney - Appeals Bureau)

Assistant District Attorney (Admitted Attorney - Appeals Bureau)

Nassau County District Attorney

Mineola, NY • On-site

$85K - $163K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

About the Nassau County District Attorney
The Nassau County District Attorney's Office investigates and prosecutes violations of state and local criminal statutes occurring within Nassau County. With nearly 200 attorneys and a total staff in excess of 400, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office is one of the largest district attorney's offices in the country. Situated on Long Island, immediately to the east of New York City, the office is committed to hiring the most qualified attorneys, investigators and support staff. The office is dedicated to constant philosophical and technological modernization and looks forward to implementing ever-changing strategies that allow it to stay one step ahead of criminal behavior.
Description
The Nassau County District Attorney's Office is currently seeking experienced, practicing attorneys with superior writing skills for its Appeals Bureau.
The Appeals Bureau is a dynamic place to be an appellate lawyer. The work is interesting and challenging, and the Bureau has a supportive and collegial atmosphere. With a staff of nearly 20 lawyers devoted to handling appeals and post-judgment motions by convicted defendants, the Bureau is at the forefront of "making law" and establishing legal precedents that influence the landscape of criminal law in New York. The Bureau handles all post-judgment litigation of the County's criminal cases - in every level of the trial and appellate courts of New York and the United States. The Appeals Bureau also serves an important role in advising Assistant District Attorneys throughout the Office on legal issues that arise during the investigative and trial stages of a case.
Qualifications and Requirements
  • All lateral candidates must:
  • Have a Juris Doctorate (JD) Degree from an ABA-accredited law school;
  • Be a current New York State Bar member in good standing;
  • Reside in New York State as of the effective date of employment with the NCDAO;
  • Have 3+ years of practicing criminal law or conducting appellate work;
  • Have a strong work ethic;
  • Pay scrupulous attention to deadlines;
  • Make a two-year commitment to employment at the NCDAO; and
  • Prior experience as an appellate attorney or equivalent work experience is strongly preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities
  • Researching, writing and arguing briefs in intermediate appellate courts and the NYS Court of Appeals addressing issues of criminal and constitutional law;
  • Answering collateral post-conviction motions seeking vacatur of convictions under Article 440 of the Criminal Procedure Law; conducting evidentiary hearings related to these motions;
  • Answering petitions for writs of habeas corpus filed in federal court, and briefing and arguing appeals arising from such cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit;
  • Counseling ADAs throughout the Office on questions of law arising at pre-trial, trial, and sentencing stages;
  • Reviewing adverse decisions for potential People's appeals; researching, briefing, and arguing such appeals
  • Conducting conviction integrity reviews of post-conviction cases whenever such treatment is warranted;
  • Litigating specialized civil proceedings, including state habeas corpus and Article 78 petitions; and
  • Engaging in motion practice related to all stages of the appellate process.

Job Benefits
  • As an ADA, you will receive the following benefits (waiting periods may apply):
  • 13 paid holidays each year
  • Generous paid vacation, personal and sick days each year
  • Contributory medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents
  • New York State Employees Retirement Plan
  • Optional Deferred Compensation Plan
  • Flexible benefits plans (pre-tax) for medical and child-care expenses
  • Childcare leave
  • Nassau Financial Federal Credit Union optional financial services
  • Competitive salary commensurate with experience: $85,000 to $163,000

Application Process
Lateral applicants will complete 2 rounds of interviews:
  1. Panel Interview with two supervisory Assistant District Attorneys from the Hiring Committee
  2. Interview with the Chief Assistant District Attorney and the District Attorney, Anne T. Donnelly.

The pay range for this role is:
85,000 - 163,000 USD per year (Mineola, NY)

Apply