Chicago Amicus Brief Attorney

'Friend of the Court' Advocacy From an Office in Illinois

In addition to representing clients in civil appeals, Chicago attorney Lisa M. Lilly has extensive experience researching and writing amicus briefs. She has written amicus briefs on behalf of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, among other organizations.

Learn more about the amicus advocacy skills of attorney Lisa M. Lilly, or request a sample amicus brief to review. Call 866-389-3051 or contact her office online.

The Purpose of Amicus Briefs

"Amicus curiae" means "friend of the court." An amicus curiae is someone other than a party to the litigation whose purpose is to bring to the court's attention relevant information that is not included in the parties' written materials or oral argument.

The first argument an amicus curiae faces is to convince the appellate court to allow the amicus to participate at all. The appellate court, not the parties, control whether amicus briefs may be filed. If the court allows the amicus brief, then the purpose of the brief is to present "big picture" information about the possible sociological, economic or political impact of the court's ruling on the appeal.

The Qualities of a Proficient Amicus Lawyer

To convince an appeals court to accept an amicus brief, it is important for the appellate law attorney to have an in-depth understanding of the organization, in order to convince the court that the organization's amicus brief will offer a unique perspective on the issues at hand. The amicus brief lawyer should craft compelling answers to such questions as:

• What information will the amicus provide that the parties will not provide?
• What is the organization's position in the larger community and whose perspective does the organization represent?
• What information or data does the organization have regarding the potential effects of the court's ruling on segments of society besides the parties themselves?

Effective amicus brief advocacy requires a strong combination of analytical skills, people skills, and storytelling ability. The attorney must be able to analyze relevant data and present it in a straightforward message to the court. The amicus lawyer must be able to work well with the amicus organization, as well as coordinate efforts and resolve disputes between the amicus organization and the parties and their attorneys. Written advocacy skill is critical, because the amicus curiae typically does not make oral argument to the court.

Contact Lisa M. Lilly LLC for More Information

Ms. Lilly strives to provide the same level of sophisticated service normally associated with larger law firms. As a solo practitioner with low overhead costs, Ms. Lilly is able to offer more reasonable rates.

To schedule an appointment to inquire about Ms. Lilly's availability for amicus brief work, call 866-389-3051 or contact her office online today.