CAAL Fellowship Program
May 2026 - May 2027
Program Announcement
The California Academy of Appellate Lawyers is proud to announce the opening of the application period for the 2026-2027 Fellowship Program. The Fellowship year will run from May 2026 to May 2027.
The 2026-2027 Fellowship application period has closed. We look forward to receiving applications in February 2027 for the 2027-2028 term.
The Fellowship Program has two main goals:
- To increase the diversity of participants in the Academy’s educational and social programs, and
- To introduce the Academy to appellate lawyers for future candidacy.
The following qualifications will be considered in selecting participants in the Fellowship Program:
- Good character and professional reputation,
- Outstanding appellate skills and ability, and
- A continuing commitment to quality appellate practice.
To qualify for candidacy, a Fellow must have been a member of The State Bar of California for at least 3 years, and must spend a substantial amount of time on appellate work in a typical year.
Additionally, the Academy will consider an applicant’s contribution to the diversity of participants in the Academy’s programs, which includes (but is not limited to) geographic location, area of practice, race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.
Program Description
Fellows will be invited to participate in the Academy’s educational and social programs, including one-day meetings in the fall in San Francisco and in the winter in Burbank/Pasadena, and a spring weekend conference in southern California. The Academy’s educational programming includes appellate-specific MCLE seminars, typically with appellate justices and judges, and sometimes relevant industry leaders, as participants. The Academy’s social programming includes a dinner outing after each meeting attended by our judicial guests and other panel participants. Fellows will also be welcome to participate on most Academy committees and task forces. Through the Fellowship Program, the Academy hopes to enrich the professional experience of early-career appellate lawyers.
Eligibility and Considerations
The Academy will consider the following qualifications in selecting participants in the Fellowship Program:
- Good character and professional reputation,
- Appellate ability, and
- A continuing commitment to high quality appellate practice.
An applicant must have been a member of the California bar in good standing for at least 3 years, and must spend a substantial amount of time on appellate work in a typical year.
The Academy will review all applications, and may request additional documents or other supporting information from applicants. Final selection of fellows for the 2026-2027 term will occur by early May 2026, with applicants notified by email. The Academy may select up to four fellows for the 2026-2027 term.
Required Documents (Word or PDF)
The documents required to apply are:
- Resume;
- Cover letter, including an explanation of the applicant’s experience in appellate law and a statement on why the applicant would like to be an Academy fellow;
- A writing sample; and
- A list of references (no more than two) with permission to contact and/or a letter of recommendation.
Questions
Any questions on the Fellowship Program or application process can be directed to Stephanie Finelli at steph@finellilaw.com.