Appellate Specialist

Gibson Dunn•Washington, DC

6d•$115,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

Based in Gibson Dunn’s Washington, D.C. office, the Appellate Specialist supports attorneys in the Appellate and Constitutional Law practice group. Working under attorney supervision, this position supports complex, high-stakes appellate litigation and reports to the Manager, Paralegal Services. The role involves preparing and finalizing appellate filings, supporting appellate court procedures, conducting legal research, managing deadlines, assembling records and appendices, and coordinating with attorneys, paralegals, and court personnel. The specialist also assists with oral argument preparation and tracks developments in appellate law.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
Knowledge of court rules, procedures, and practice requirements for the United States Supreme Court, federal courts of appeals and district courts, and state courts of appeals.
Expert or superior knowledge of the Bluebook and cite-checking processes.
Experience with AI tools such as Claude, Harvey, ChatGPT, CoCounsel, or Gemini.
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to be flexible, multitask, and balance priorities and tight deadlines.
Proactive approach and ability to handle multiple projects and client matters simultaneously.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Superior analytical and reasoning abilities.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team across multiple offices.
Ability to work overtime and weekends based on department needs.
Understanding of common litigation practices, procedures, regulations, and workflow.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook), Adobe Acrobat, and iManage.
Proficiency in LexisNexis and Westlaw.
Expertise with PACER and CM/ECF.

Nice To Haves

JD preferred.
10+ years of relevant experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Review, format, revise, and finalize appellate motions, briefs, petitions, and other filings in the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts.
Draft routine procedural motions and other documents for filing in appellate courts.
Cite check, Bluebook, proofread, and prepare tables for motions, briefs, petitions, and other court filings.
Prepare appellate records and appendices, including compiling and reviewing trial court documents and transcripts.
Electronically file motions, briefs, appendices, and other documents with the United States Supreme Court and federal and state appellate courts.
Conduct legal research on appellate procedures.
Monitor deadlines and ensure compliance with court rules and filing requirements.
Coordinate with attorneys, paralegals, and court personnel to facilitate appellate processes.
Assist with oral argument preparation, including creating case and briefing binders.
Track developments in appellate law and provide updates to litigation teams.
Prepare and timely submit timekeeping reports.