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Appellate Practice Examination Guide

• 3 hour objective and short essay exam, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• followed by a take home brief writing exam that will be due the following week.

Morning Session – General Appellate Practice
• 30-35 total multiple choice questions
• 3–5 essay questions, some selection involved
• Open book materials (click here for a list of materials available) will be provided including: The North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Fourth Circuit Court Rules, United States Supreme Court Rules, and selected state and federal appellate statutes.

Take-home exam – Brief Writing
• Upon completion of the morning exam, examinees will be given the take-home exam
• Examinees will have one week to complete and submit the brief writing exam
• Additional open book materials will be accessible through the State Bar website following completion of the morning exam. (Examinees may use other written materials available from any source; however, the exam is designed to limit the need for other materials.)

All exam questions are allocated "points" and require responses that demonstrate accuracy, clarity, sound reasoning, recognition of the problem presented, knowledge of the principle of law involved, and correct application of those principles. Full or partial credit may be given.

Subject Matter

The examination shall cover the applicant’s knowledge and application of the following:

(A) The North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure;

(B) North Carolina General Statutes relating to appeals;

(C) The Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure;

(D) Federal statutes relating to appeals;

(E) The Local Rules and Internal Operating Procedures of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit;

(F) The Rules of the United States Supreme Court;

(G) Brief writing;

(H) Oral argument; and

(I) Principles of appellate jurisdiction.

The following continuing legal education course may help to prepare for the exam:

Improving Your Appellate Practice: Gateway to Specialization
Thursday, October 13
NC Bar Center, Cary
CLE Credit: 6.5 Hours
Plus 5 Video Replays

See ncbar.org/cle/programs/847app.aspx for course details and registration options.