Thursday, July 25, 2019: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

The two pillars of a case on appeal are the appellate records and the briefs. The record consists of the documents filed in the trial court (the “Clerk’s Transcript”), plus a record of the oral proceedings in the courtroom (the “Reporter’s Transcript” or a substitute). The briefs are written legal arguments that present a party’s position on appeal.

In this class, learn to designate an adequate record and prepare a successful brief.

Class covers:

• The purpose, content and importance of the Clerk’s and Reporter’s Transcripts  
• How to designate a record that is adequate to help the appellate court assess error
• The purpose and contents of an appellate brief
• What rules guide the appellate court’s decision about whether the trial court decision should be reversed
• The different, and equally essential roles of the factual history and the legal arguments in a brief
• Format, filing and service requirements
• Deadlines and time limits

Presented by: Tyna Orren, Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, Orren & Orren

Registration fee: FREE
Reduced-rate parking options available during registration

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The information presented in this program is not legal advice and is provided solely as an educational service to our patrons. For legal advice, you should consult an attorney.

Thursday, August 1, 2019: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The heart of an appeal is a well-written brief. This workshop provides one-on-one assistance with writing, rewriting and formatting a brief and provides tips to avoid common mistakes in legal writing. Library resources for brief-writing will also be covered.

What to bring to the workshop:

This class involves one-on-one instruction and review of drafts. If you are working on a draft, bring two copies – one for you and one for the volunteer attorney. Please bring a pen or pencil and your reading glasses (if you need them).

IMPORTANT NOTE: This workshop is exclusively for self-represented litigants who have reached the stage of an appeal where they are ready to draft a brief; only those who have been pre-screened by the Appellate Self-Help Clinic at the Court of Appeal may participate. To be admitted to the workshop attendees must present a written referral form from the Clinic.

The Appellate Self-Help Clinic is located on the Second Floor of the North Tower of the Ronald Reagan State Building, across from the Clerk's Office at 300 South Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. The Clinic's hours of operation are:

• Most Wednesdays - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The last Wednesday of each month - 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ONLY.

If you cannot visit the clinic, you may obtain a referral by emailing the staff attorney. The staff attorney's email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include "Requesting referral to Insert Date Individualized Help Writing an Appellate Brief" in the subject line.

Registration fee: FREE

Presented by: Tyna Orren, Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, Orren & Orren

LA Law Library does not provide legal advice:
LA Law Library does not provide legal advice. LA Law Library provides legal resources and assistance with legal research as an educational service. The Law Library is pleased to offer our patrons the opportunity to obtain assistance from third party legal service providers at this and other events within the Library. However, the Library does not control and is not responsible for the content or scope of any assistance given by those providers.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019: 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Wednesday, April 3, 2019: 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm
Wednesday, April 17, 2019: 1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

Under California Rule of Court Rule 9.9.5, active attorneys licensed in California and multi-jurisdictional practitioners must be re-fingerprinted by April 30, 2019.

Certified LiveScan provider B&G Protective Services will offer fingerprinting services at LA Law Library at a special discounted rate on a first come, first served basis.

Please bring your printed, prepopulated Live Scan form available on My State Bar Profile, and don’t forget your fingers!

Other professional support opportunities to be offered each day:

• Live or re-broadcast MCLE “How to Avoid Trust Account Nightmares,” immediately preceding each fingerprinting session, 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Earn 1.0 hour Legal Ethics MCLE credit.
• Introduction to the cost-saving Members Program designed for attorneys, including a tour of the Members Study.

Fingerprinting fee: $69, including the $49 DOJ and FBI processing fee
Forms of payment accepted: Credit card, cash. First come, first served.
MCLE registration fee charged separately

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 (live):  12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Wednesday, April 3 & 17, 2019 (re-broadcasts):  12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

A large proportion of State Bar disciplinary matters involve mishandling of client trust funds, with often dire consequences. This class will cover the surprisingly complex rules governing client trust account funds, and give you some best practices to avoid the nightmares you have heard about. Fulfill your State Bar-mandated re-fingerprinting requirement (due April 30, 2019) after the class.

Class covers:

• Common trust account errors
• Resolution of fee disputes involving trust funds
• Treatment of liens against trust funds
• How the new Rules of Professional Conduct affect your trust fund responsibilities

Earn 1.0 hour Legal Ethics MCLE credit

Presented by Ellen A. Panksy and Art Barsegyan:

Ellen A. Pansky is the founding partner of Pansky Markle and a Certified Specialist in Legal Malpractice Law. She received the Kettlewell Legal Ethics Advisor Award in 2016, is an inaugural member and past President of the national Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, a member of the LACBA Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee (Chair 1996-97), and previously served as a member of the ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility. 

Art Barsegyan is an associate attorney at Pansky Markle with a practice focusing on legal ethics compliance, California State Bar discipline and admissions, and legal malpractice defense. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School, during which time he assisted in the investigation and prosecution of attorneys as a law clerk in the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel of the State Bar of California. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of Discipline Defense Counsel.

Registration fee: $30 for the­ live class; $25 for the re-broadcast
Non-refundable, payment reserves spot. Reduced-rate parking options available during registration.
Fingerprinting through certified LiveScan provider charged separately.