Students in this clinic provide free legal representation in state and federal appellate courts and administrative agencies. Students manage all facets of the appellate process—from intake through mediation, briefing, and argument. The clinic’s caseload includes civil, criminal, and administrative appeals, and the clinic represents a wide variety of clients—individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations; plaintiffs, defendants, and amici curiae.
LAW 665-001 Casework
LAW 665-002 Class
Travis Ramey
2Ls and 3Ls, but third-year students who can register with the Alabama State Bar for a student practice card receive preference.
The clinic is four credits and is a one-semester clinic. Students who are taking this clinic for the first time must also take the corresponding two credit, one semester class.
Case Rounds: 1½ hour TBA
Seminar: 1½ hour TBA
The Appellate Advocacy Clinic is the newest of the Law School’s clinics. Under the direction of Professor Travis Ramey, students in this clinic provide free legal representation in appellate matters. In the Appellate Advocacy Clinic, law student interns litigate appeals in state and federal courts and administrative agencies, managing all facets of the process—from intake through mediation, briefing, and argument. The clinic’s caseload includes civil, criminal, and administrative appeals, and the clinic represents a wide variety of clients—individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations; plaintiffs, defendants, and amici curiae.
The Appellate Advocacy Clinic will manage a full range of appellate matters in state and federal courts and in administrative agencies. All students will have the opportunity to draft briefs in actual appellate cases. Clinic third-year students the state bar has certified as law student interns may also orally argue a case in front of an appellate court or administrative board. Common types of cases include administrative appeals, civil rights disputes, direct criminal appeals, habeas petitions, immigration petitions for review, and general civil litigation. In addition, Clinic students may negotiate, mediate, and work cooperatively to settle disputes that are currently on appeal.
In the Appellate Advocacy Clinic, students work in teams of two to manage their own cases. In the process, students develop and work toward mastery of skills that are critical to competent lawyering—legal research, problem solving, legal analysis, negotiation, understanding procedures, organizing and managing a case load, maintaining professional responsibility, resolving ethical dilemmas, and engaging oral and written advocacy. Once the Clinic accepts a case for representation—whether through court appointment or through internal case rounds—the student interns act as the attorneys on the matter throughout the briefing process and including any oral argument. The students, with support from the supervising attorney, develop the legal theories, perform the research, decide with arguments to press, and prepare the briefs. Student interns will interact directly with the client, any co-counsel, and opposing counsel, and they may appear in court on behalf of clients.
The Appellate Advocacy Clinic is a one-semester, 6-credit course. Third-year students receive preference during registration, but they should register WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER with the Alabama State Bar to receive a student practice card. Students with that certification may appear in court, which increases their ability to gain experience and offer services in the Clinic. The course meets twice a week, in 1.5-hour sessions. Because of the nature of appellate work, time spent per week will vary greatly. But students should spend an average of 12-14 hours per week on casework in addition to class. In the seminar, students learn the skills, procedures, and strategies for successful appellate advocacy and discuss and develop an understanding of lawyers’ roles and professional responsibilities in appellate cases. In case rounds, students present on any applications for legal services, evaluate potential clients and cases, share experiences and information, and work together to problem-solve on-going cases.
Before joining the University of Alabama School of Law faculty in 2023, Professor Ramey was a partner at Burr & Forman LLP in Birmingham, Alabama, where his practice focused on appellate matters. During his time in private practice, Professor Ramey litigated more than one hundred appellate matters in multiple state and federal courts, including representing parties on the merits and as amici curiae in the Supreme Court of the United States.
Professor Ramey received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law. His scholarship focuses on appellate procedure and tort law. He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure.
For more information on the Appellate Advocacy Clinic, contact Professor Ramey at (205) 348-4960 or tramey@law.ua.edu.
