Guide to Legal Writing,
Appellate Practice
Dec. 2, 2025
Conclusions about conclusions: How to end appellate briefs effectively without overdoing it
Effective appellate brief conclusions should be short, precise and relief-focused, balancing the functional purpose of stating the exact relief sought with the optional persuasive opportunity to leave a memorable final impression.
Benjamin G. Shatz
Partner in the Appellate Division of Duane Morris LLP's Trial Practice Group in the Los Angeles office, and leader of the firm's West Coast appellate practice.
Appellate Law (Certified), Litigation
Exceptionally Appealing appears the first Tuesday of the month.
Welcome to December, the end of the year. Now's an apt time to ponder conclusions.
In federal appellate courts, opening briefs must end with "a short conclusion stating the precise relief sought." Fed. R. App. Proc. 28(a)(9); Sup. Ct. R. 24.1(j) ("[a] conclusion specifying with particularity the relief the party seeks"). Interestingly, an appellee's answering brief need not have a conclusion. FRAP 28(b). And a reply brief can end without a conclus...
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