Appellate Practice
Nov. 8, 2016
Concise is not the same as short
A lengthy brief can be concise if the author comes to each point quickly, writes clearly and omits all fluff. But a 15 page brief can seem interminably long if it is unclear, boring and wanders around the heart of the case. By Myron Moskovitz
Myron Moskovitz
Legal Director
Moskovitz Appellate Team
90 Crocker Ave
Piedmont , CA 94611-3823
Phone: (510) 384-0354
Email: myronmoskovitz@gmail.com
UC Berkeley SOL Boalt Hal
Myron Moskovitz is author of Strategies On Appeal (CEB, 2021; digital: ceb.com; print: https://store.ceb.com/strategies-on-appeal-2) and Winning An Appeal (5th ed., Carolina Academic Press). He is Director of Moskovitz Appellate Team, a group of former appellate judges and appellate research attorneys who handle and consult on appeals and writs. See MoskovitzAppellateTeam.com. The Daily Journal designated Moskovitz Appellate Team as one of California's top boutique law firms. Myron can be contacted at myronmoskovitz@gmail.com or (510) 384-0354. Prior "Moskovitz On Appeal" columns can be found at http://moskovitzappellateteam.com/blog.
MOSKOVITZ ON APPEALS
In a recent column, I noted that - beginning Dec. 1 - the word limit for federal appeals briefs will be lowered from 14,000 words down to 13,000 words. You can meet this limit - with words to spare - if you focus on writing concisely. Not only will you comply with the rule, your chance of winning will improve.
But what does concise mean?
Concise is n...
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