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The Indiana Appellate Institute
The Indiana Appellate Institute was created by IndyBar Appellate Practice Section as a resource for lawyers throughout the state who have oral arguments scheduled before the Indiana Supreme Court or Indiana Court of Appeals. Modeled after the Supreme Court Institute at Georgetown University Law Center, the Indiana Appellate Institute offers "moot" or practice argument sessions before panels of seasoned appellate advocates and others who have reviewed the briefs and will ask the sorts of questions an advocate can expect at the actual argument.
The Institute's core mission is to raise the level of oral advocacy before Indiana's state appellate courts. When availability allows, the Institute will also arrange for moot panels to prepare argument before other courts.
Any questions about the Institute may be directed to Josh Tatum, SLS Group LLC.
Learn more about the Indiana Appellate Institute
Schedule a Moot Argument
Attorneys with cases scheduled for oral argument who are interested in scheduling a moot argument with the Indiana Appellate Institute should complete this form. Requests should be made at least three weeks before a scheduled oral argument, although later requests will be considered. Mooting sessions will generally be held approximately one week before the argument to allow counsel adequate time to incorporate the panel's critique.
Indiana Appellate Institute Fees
The mission of the Institute is to raise the quality of oral advocacy in Indiana's appellate courts with a focus on assisting lawyers with no or very limited experience arguing before the Indiana Supreme Court or Indiana Court of Appeals. The fees listed below are intended to emphasize that priority. The service is free to lawyers who are arguing before an Indiana appellate court in their first oral argument. It is also free for lawyers representing clients of limited means before Indiana appellate courts and are providing their services at no fee. Others may request a fee waiver in writing.
The following fees apply to the various types of cases:
- $0 for Advocates representing a client before an Indiana appellate court and who have never delivered oral argument in any appellate court.
- $0 for advocates representing clients of limited means before Indiana appellate courts who are providing their services at no fee
- $750 for IndyBar members preparing to argue before an Indiana state appellate court
- $950 for non-members preparing to argue before an Indiana appellate court
- $1,000 for IndyBar members preparing for other appellate arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- $1,500 for non-members preparing for other appellate arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Fees will be used by the Appellate Practice Section to fund its activities, which include CLE programming, scholarships to national appellate training programs for attorneys of limited means, and contributions to the Indianapolis Bar Foundation. Checks should be made out to the Indianapolis Bar Association and sent to the IndyBar office to the attention of Indiana Appellate Institute at 140 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Volunteer as a Judge
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer judge for the Appellate Institute, please complete the new judge volunteer form.
If you currently serve as a volunteer judge and need to update your information, please the returning judge volunteer form.