Florida Appellate Law Firm

Experienced trial lawyers know that initiating or responding to an appeal is a different type of law demanding a different set of skills and experience. Attorney Chuck Schropp was a Board-Certified Attorney in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar for 20 years. In addition, both attorneys at the Schropp Law Firm began their legal careers as clerks in state and federal appeals courts, including the Florida Second District Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. We have the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to successfully handle an appeal. If you have a case pending before an appellate court anywhere in the state of Florida, or even just an important issue that you feel might subsequently result in such an appeal, call on the lawyers at the Schropp Law Firm to assist you with your case.

Appellate Law is Not Trial Law

An appeal is not a second opportunity to try every issue in the case, although the appeal may lead to a new trial if the appeals court remands the case to rehear or reconsider certain facts or legal issues. The appeal itself is limited to proving that errors were committed by the trial court which warrant a reversal of the lower court’s decision. Grounds for appeal that may amount to reversible error include mistakes such as:

• An improper ruling on a motion
• A faulty jury instruction
• An abuse of judicial discretion
• Bias

As experienced appellate attorneys, we know how to review a trial transcript and other case documents for appellate purposes. In briefing a case for a higher court, we conduct research that is exhaustive, up-to-date and precisely on-point. Moreover, when oral argument is called for, our experience as appellate litigators means we will prepare and deliver a persuasive argument and be ready to handle any questions directed to us from the bench.

It is worth noting that, due of the complexity of appellate law and the importance of preservation of issues for appeal, a significant emerging trend is the involvement of appellate counsel prior to trial or adjudication of an issue that trial attorneys feel may be later considered on appeal. As such, lawyers with a potential appellate issue are encouraged to call as soon as possible, even before an appeal is filed, so as to allow us to help properly legally frame and preserve the issues that will be addressed on appeal. That notwithstanding, the lawyers at Schropp Law Firm are experienced at handling the more common scenario of taking on an appeal after a notice of appeal has been filed or a final judgment has been entered.

Qualified and Experienced Representation in Florida Appellate Courts

Appellate practice requires a different set of skills from trial practice. With an attorney who was Board-Certified in Appellate Law and years of experience handling appeals, you can be confident that the attorneys at Schropp Law Firm will manage your appeal with skill and assurance. From our offices in Tampa, we are available to handle cases in all Florida state appellate courts and in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.