Appellate Practice

The HBA Appellate Practice Section is the largest local appellate bar in the State of Texas. The section holds a monthly luncheon that provides an opportunity for networking with members of the appellate bar and justices from the Houston Courts of Appeals. Luncheons are well-attended and feature high-quality CLE presentations by appellate judges and leading members of the appellate bar.

The section hosts several social events, including an annual Judicial Reception to honor the justices from the Houston Courts of Appeals and other local members of the judiciary. The section also participates in a variety of charitable and service activities, including CLE scholarships for staff attorneys at the Houston appellate courts, brief writing awards for all three Houston law schools, and administration of a pro bono program designed to provide pro bono counsel to indigent litigants with qualifying cases in the Houston appellate courts.

Section Membership:$431

Section Dues:
$40 HBA Members
$45 Non-Members
$30 Government Attorneys
$10 Staff Attorneys, Law Clerks & Judges
$30 Recorded Program Only

Meetings:
$45 with reservation
$50 for walk-ins

Scholarships:
$500 to one student from each of the three local law schools. Offered in the fall semester. The legal writing professor must submit the top briefs from the legal writing classes. Scholarship will be awarded to the writer of the best brief from each law school, as judged by section members. To participate, contact the Section Chair.

Read the March 2026 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the October 2025 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the May 2025 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the February 2025 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the October 2024 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the July 2024 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the April 2024 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

Read the November 2023 issue of the section's publication, The Appellate Lawyer, here

The Mediation Time Machine – John Coselli

Bylaws of the Appellate Practice Section

Appellate Pro Bono Program:
The State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Committee and the Houston Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section Pro Bono Committee are conducting a Pro Bono Program to place a limited number of civil appeals with appellate counsel who will represent the appellant or appellee before the First or Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. The goal of the program is to match clients who are financially unable to obtain legal representation with volunteer lawyers who agree to serve without expectation of compensation for their service. Through this Program, volunteer lawyers obtain greater appellate experience in, and exposure to, the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals. The Courts have indicated that they will give special consideration to hearing oral argument in cases accepted through the Program.

A description of this Program is located in the Pro Bono Pamphlet for the First Court of Appeals and the Pro Bono Pamphlet for the Fourteenth Court of Appeals.

The sign-up sheet to become involved in the pro bono programs is located at the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section Pro Bono Project webpage. This webpage also includes general information, sample motions, and brief templates that may help you navigate through the appellate process in the First and Fourteenth Courts of Appeals.