Your client lost at trial and boy is it mad about that. So, your
directions are to file an immediate appeal and get it fixed. Of
course, you need to advise the client of any posttrial hoops that
must be jumped through for preservation purposes before filing that
appeal. Hopefully the issues were set up well at the trial level
and the case was tried with an eye toward a potential appeal. But,
good appellate counsel always should take a step back and provide
the client with an objective evaluation of whether an appeal truly
is a wise course of action.
An appellate lawyer naturally wants to pursue the appeal and try
to get a reversal. And the fact is, appeals often are successful
and achieve meaningful relief from adverse trial results,
especially if the appellant is careful in its selection of the
issues for appeal. Many good articles have been written about
effective appellate advocacy, and following such advice will
strengthen the odds of winning on appeal.
