LAA is seeking the background information that you have as trial counsel so that we can determine if there is merit to fund an appeal for the matter. Our staff lawyers make the final determination on merit for every appeal file, but the information in your opinions helps us know what issues were at play and what potential grounds of appeal might be present.
Your opinion should include the following:
- a summary of the relevant evidence presented at trial;
- a statement of the issues and a summary of the arguments and evidence;
- a summary of the decision; and
- counsel’s opinion regarding the presence of meritorious grounds of appeal—what cases or principles you believe were not properly applied at trial or at sentencing.
Providing us with thorough and detailed opinions helps us make our coverage decision as quickly as possible for the client. If you’re looking for a refresher on what we’d like to see in the opinion, you can access that information in the Roster Handbook.
As always, if you have any questions about what to include, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].