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In Vault's Practice Area Resource Centers, among other things, we highlight Q&As from various attorneys employed at law firms who have ranked for prestige in the relevant practice area. In this series, we will highlight some answers from attorneys at ranked firms regarding what their typical day is like working in a given practice area. Today, we feature some answers from our Appellate Litigation Practice Area Resource Center.
Kristin Cope, Partner, O'Melveny: "I genuinely don’t have a “typical” day, and that’s what I love about it. The early analytical stages of a case differ from the intensive, document-based preparation needed when you are preparing for numerous depositions. The written advocacy really kicks in when you enter hearings and begin important dispositive motion practice. And the storytelling is crafted throughout but culminates with the all-consuming (but amazing) work for trial or oral argument."
Judd Littleton, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell: "It’s hard to say there’s a “typical” day given that the cases we tend to work on are infinitely varied and complex, so every day is different depending on the problem of the moment and what kind of case we’re working on. I think that’s partly due to appellate practice in general, but also to S&C and our generalist model.
That said, I love writing and spend a lot of my day drafting, editing, and re-editing written work. That can be in the form of briefs, memos, or emails to clients. I also spend a lot of time talking through legal issues with both colleagues and clients, which is how we figure out what our arguments are going to be, and those discussions are something that I really like about the practice."
Sally Pei, Partner & Andrew Tutt, Counsel, Arnold & Porter:
"Sally: I spend a lot of time reading, analyzing cases and authorities, and drafting and editing motions and briefs. A typical day also often will include meetings (whether with colleagues at the firm or with the client) to discuss case strategy.
Andrew: More than anything else, I find that it is my job to know the law. I spend a lot of my time researching—reading legal cases, precedents, and other materials that help me to understand the law in a particular area and what arguments are available to make about it. I also spend a lot of my time writing, teaching the law to others, explaining the arguments that are available and unavailable, and ultimately drafting briefs and motions that present those arguments to courts and other tribunals."
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