JOIN APS FOR A VIRTUAL LUNCHTIME TOWN HALL AND A FULL-DAY IN-PERSON CLE ALL ABOUT BOARD CERTIFICATION!
Appellate Practice Section – Board Certification Town Hall 2026
January 13, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Join the Appellate Practice Section on January 13, 2026, at Noon for a Board Certification Town Hall. A panel of seasoned appellate practitioners will discuss the qualifications for The Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Certification, the application process, the exam, and much more! Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions at this one-hour webinar.
The program is FREE to all Appellate Practice Section members.
Moderator: Joe Eagleton
Panelists: Sam Alexander, Alyssa Cory, Duane Daiker, and Jamie Moses
Topics Include:
The Certification Requirements
The Application
• What briefs should be included?
• What if my OAs are dispensed
• How do I get judicial references?
• Who do I list for professional references?
The Test
• What is examined?
• What do I need to pass?
• How did you prepare?
• Is it another bar exam?
The Certification
• What are the benefits of certification?
• How do you maintain certification?
| This course is intended to prepare lawyers taking the Appellate Board Certification exam and to provide in-depth information to appellate lawyers and appellate judges on the mechanics of appeals in multiple practice areas for Florida’s state appellate courts and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The entire program focuses on the unique practice area of being an appellate lawyer and an appellate judge, promoting the connection everyone shares and an open discussion throughout the day-long seminar. Each of the eight experienced and well-regarded appellate lawyers who teach the course actively involve the live participants in the discussion, encouraging them to share their experiences and ask questions. The interaction continues during the three breaks so that audience participation increases as the day goes on. By the end of the day, solid connections are made amongst the participants and with the speakers so that the conversations continue long after the seminar. AGENDA 8:00 am – 8:30 am CHECK-IN 8:30 am – 8:35 am WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS Hon. Andrew D. Manko, Program Chair, Tampa 8:35 am – 8:50 am OVERVIEW OF APPELLATE CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION SPECIFICATIONS Mark D. Tinker, Tampa 8:50 am – 9:55 am FLORIDA CIVIL APPELLATE PRACTICESteven L. Brannock, Tampa 9:55 am – 10:05 am BREAK 10:05 am – 10:35 am STANDARDS OF REVIEW/PRESERVATION OF ERROR Cristina Alonso, Miami 10:35 am – 11:25 am ADMINISTRATIVE APPEALS Hon. Andrew D. Manko, Tallahassee 11:25 am – 12:25 pm LUNCH (Provided) 12:25 pm – 1:20 pm EXTRAORDINARY WRITS Christine R. Davis, St. Petersburg 1:20 pm – 2:20 pm FLORIDA CRIMINAL APPEALS Michael Davis, Miami 2:20 pm – 3:05 pm FEDERAL APPELLATE PRACTICE: PART I Thomas Burns, Tampa 3:05 pm – 3:15 pm BREAK 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm FEDERAL APPELLATE PRACTICE: PART II Thomas Burns, Tampa 4:00 pm – 4:30 pm SIGNIFICANT RECENT APPELLATE PRACTICE DECISIONS Matthew J. Conigliaro, Tampa |
| This CLE is accredited at the Advanced level for: • 7.0 General CLE credit • 7.0 Appellate Practice Certification credit • 4.0 Criminal Appellate Law Certification credit • 7.5 CJE credit |
