UTBMS Code L620 — Appellate Briefs
Research, drafting, and filing of appellate briefs including opening briefs, response briefs, reply briefs, and amicus briefs. This is typically the most substantial work product in an appeal.
schedule When This Code Is Used
When the appellate team is researching legal issues, drafting the opening or answering brief, preparing the record excerpts and appendix, and filing the completed brief with the appellate court.
warning Common Billing Violations
Over-researching well-established legal standards and billing 100+ hours of research for a brief that cites 30 familiar authorities
Billing trial counsel significant hours to 'review' the appellate brief when the appellate specialist has access to the full record
Charging for excessive revision cycles involving multiple partners as reviewers on a brief drafted by an appellate specialist
Block billing 'research and draft appellate brief' entries that make it impossible to assess research efficiency
timer Typical Hours
Opening brief: 100-200 hours. Response brief: 60-120 hours. Reply brief: 20-50 hours. Record excerpts/appendix: 10-30 hours.
flag Red Flags to Watch For
Research hours exceeding 40% of total brief preparation time in a case with well-established legal issues
Trial counsel billing 20+ hours to review the appellate brief prepared by appellate specialists
Total brief hours exceeding 250 for a single-issue appeal
More than three rounds of revision on an appellate brief
check_circle Best Practices for Review
Request a brief budget upfront with separate line items for research, drafting, revision, and filing
Cap trial counsel review of appellate briefs at a pre-agreed number of hours
Require that research hours be proportionate to the novelty and complexity of the legal issues
Establish revision cycle expectations: one draft, one round of senior review, one final polish
link Related Codes
analytics Key Statistics
Appellate brief preparation accounts for 60-75% of total appellate costs, making it the dominant expense in the appeals process
Source: Thomson Reuters Legal Department Benchmarking Report, 2024
Specialized appellate counsel achieve favorable outcomes 25-35% more often than trial counsel handling their own appeals
Source: BTI Consulting Group, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What does UTBMS code L620 cover for appellate briefs? expand_more
UTBMS code L620 covers appellate brief preparation including opening briefs, response briefs, reply briefs, and amicus briefs. It is the primary cost center for appellate work, covering research, drafting, and revision of written appellate advocacy.
How many hours should an appellate brief take under L620? expand_more
A straightforward appellate brief typically requires 60-120 hours. Complex appeals with multiple issues may reach 150-300 hours. These benchmarks assume focused appellate counsel rather than trial counsel learning appellate practice, which would inflate hours significantly.
What cost controls apply to appellate briefing under L620? expand_more
Require appellate specialists rather than trial counsel for brief writing. Set per-brief budgets and limit revision cycles to two rounds of senior review. Ensure that research from trial phases is leveraged and challenge duplicative legal research already conducted at the trial level.