This program is eligible for 1 hour of CLE credit in 60-minute states. In 50-minute states, this program is eligible for 1.2 hours of CLE credit. Credit hours are estimated and are subject to each state’s approval and credit rounding rules.
Overview
What to Do (and Not Do) to Win in the Pennsylvania Appellate Courts
This course offers a practical and accessible overview of appellate practice in Pennsylvania's appellate courts, with a focus on the Superior Court and Commonwealth Court. Designed for attorneys at all levels of experience, the program guides participants through the key stages of the appellate process—from preserving issues for appeal and filing the notice of appeal, to briefing, oral argument, and post-decision motions. In addition to outlining procedural requirements, the course emphasizes effective advocacy, with practical tips for drafting persuasive and professional appellate briefs. Topics include issue preservation, standards of review, record preparation, brief structure and strategy, and ethical considerations in appellate writing.
Participants will learn:
* How to initiate and navigate an appeal in Pennsylvania state courts
* Common procedural pitfalls and how to avoid them
* The essential components of a well-written appellate brief
* Best practices for framing legal issues, citing authority, and presenting the record
* What to expect at oral argument and during post-decision proceedings
This program is ideal for trial and appellate practitioners seeking to sharpen their skills and ensure compliance with Pennsylvania appellate rules and procedures.
Recorded in June 2025.
Faculty
Virginia Hinrichs McMichael, Esq.
Virginia Hinrichs McMichael is the Founder and Managing Attorney of Appellate Law Group LLC, a boutique law firm in Radnor, Pennsylvania devoted exclusively to appellate litigation. She has more than 40 years of experience representing clients in complex civil appeals in state and federal courts. She is a graduate of Middlebury College, where she received her B.A. with High Honors in English, and the University of Texas School of Law, where she was an Editor of the Texas International Law Journal. Over the course of her career, Ms. McMichael has built a reputation for excellence in legal research, writing, and oral advocacy. She regularly teaches and lectures on appellate practice and procedure and has presented continuing legal education courses for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Judges of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and other legal organizations. Ms. McMichael has published articles about appellate practice in a variety of publications, including The Pennsylvania Lawyer, The Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly, The Legal Intelligencer, and the ABA Publication Appellate Issues. Ms. McMichael is Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Appellate Advocacy Committee and a member of the PBA’s Amicus Curiae Brief Committee. She is the 2022 recipient of the PBA Women in the Profession Committee’s Lynette Norton Award, an award that recognizes female attorneys who excel in litigation skills and who are devoted to mentoring female lawyers.
Need help navigating your CLE requirements?
You have a lot on your plate. We’ll help you stay on top of your compliance — in PA and beyond.