Legal Writing Trainer; Appellate Advocacy

Legal Writing Trainer (Appellate Advocacy)

Location:

Joint Base Andrews, MD (National Capital Region – Washington DC Area acceptable)

Security Clearance:
Public Trust

Position Type:
Contract / Temporary

Projected Start:
September 2026

Leidos is seeking a Legal Writing Trainer to deliver specialized training in strategic and written appellate advocacy for criminal cases. The trainer will design and deliver a structured curriculum focused on appellate strategy, persuasive legal writing, and case analysis. The role includes developing the training curriculum in advance and delivering in‑person instruction to legal professionals. Training will emphasize practical application, enabling participants to analyze trial records, develop appellate issues, and write persuasive appellate briefs using advanced advocacy techniques.

The engagement will involve approximately 21 hours of in‑person instruction delivered over 2–3 days, with 7 training hours per day, excluding lunch. The trainer will work with a small group of approximately six participants.

• Develop a comprehensive training curriculum for appellate advocacy and legal writing prior to the training sessions.
• Deliver in‑person training focused on strategic and written appellate advocacy skills related to criminal cases.
• Provide instruction on reviewing and analyzing trial records to identify appellate issues.
• Train participants on developing theories of the case and appellate strategies based on trial record analysis.
• Teach methods for creating persuasive appellate narratives from case facts.
• Instruct participants on writing persuasive appellate briefs, incorporating techniques such as:
  • Storytelling elements
  • Primacy and recency
  • Appropriate repetition
  • Fact‑based and evocative language
  • Image‑creating language and/or graphics
  • Effective transitions
  • Clarity and juxtaposition
• Provide instruction on writing persuasive statements of facts within appellate briefs.
• Facilitate interactive learning exercises, allowing participants to apply instruction to a case they have reviewed prior to the training.
• Provide mentorship and constructive feedback on appellate strategy, issue development, and appellate writing techniques.
• Deliver instruction preferably focused on the defense perspective of criminal appeals, representing individuals convicted of crimes.
• Structure training in a manner that preferably qualifies for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

• Expertise in reviewing appellate records.
• Expertise in written appellate advocacy.
• Ability to analyze trial records to identify appellate issues.
• Ability to develop appellate strategy and theory of the case.
• Expertise in persuasive appellate brief writing.
  
  Strong knowledge of appellate writing techniques and best practices.
• Ability to teach, mentor, and provide structured feedback on legal writing and appellate strategy.

• Experience in appellate advocacy in criminal cases.
• Prior teaching experience in written appellate advocacy.
• Experience teaching from the defense perspective in criminal appeals.
• Ability to design training that qualifies for Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school (required).
• Substantial, high‑quality legal practice experience reviewing appellate records and performing written appellate advocacy.
• Experience teaching legal writing or appellate advocacy preferred.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring legal professionals and providing constructive feedback on appellate writing and strategy.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Public Trust clearance.

This engagement supports a Leidos program providing legal training services. The trainer will work with a small group of legal professionals, delivering specialized appellate advocacy instruction designed to improve legal writing and appellate strategy capabilities. Training will be conducted in person, with Joint Base Andrews, Maryland preferred, though other locations within the National Capital Region (Washington DC area) may be acceptable.

The assignment includes preparation time for curriculum development followed by the delivery of approximately 21 hours of in‑person training across 2–3 days.