Top Birmingham, AL Appellate Lawyers Near You

Civil Case Appeals

If you’ve been found liable or at fault in a civil trial you may have the right to appeal the judge or jury’s decision. This is a tricky process that its usually handled by a Birmingham attorney skilled in this particular field of law.

Civil Appellate Lawyers

A Civil Appellate Lawyer will review your first court case to determine whether a mistake was made that would render the first outcome unjust. The appeal is not a retrial, but rather a review of the procedure and law practiced during the first case.

You may be able to fight a judgment without filing an appeal by way of a Motion. Common motions include the motion for reconsideration, application for renewal, motion for new trial, and motion to vacate or set aside the judgment. The laws and rules in your area may vary.

How an Attorney Can Help

An attorney can often resolve your particular legal issue faster and better than trying to do it alone. A lawyer can help you navigate the legal system, while avoiding costly mistakes or procedural errors. You should seek out an attorney whose practice focuses on the area of law most relevant to your issue.

Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation

• Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
• Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
• Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
• Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.

Tips on Hiring an Experienced Lawyer with Appellate Cases

The more experienced a lawyer is in legal practice, the more likely he/she will be able to bring about a successful resolution to your issue. Since experience matters, lawyers who’ve been practicing law for many years (with a successful track record) tend to be in high demand. You should look for information about a lawyer’s experience and ask questions during the initial meeting. It’s a very good idea to ask the lawyer how many years he/she has been practicing law and the expected outcome of your case.

Common legal terms explained

Personal jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority over a person, in order to bind that person to the judgment of the court, based on minimum contacts. International Shoe Co v. Washington is a landmark Supreme Court case outlining the scope of a state court’s reach in personal jurisdiction.