Why the Legal AI Revolution is Actually a Good Thing for Appellate Law ft. David Coale

April 3, 2026 Joe Stephens

What if the legal AI revolution is actually a good thing? In this episode of Between the Briefs, Adrian Cea and Joe Stephens welcome David Coale, partner and leader of the appellate practice at Lynn Pinker Hurst & Schwegman, to unpack how said revolution is transforming appellate law without replacing human judgment.

What You’ll Learn:

How to structure an appellate practice that balances deep legal writing with real-time courtroom advisory work
Why generative AI excels at document digestion, trial transcript summarization and sophisticated legal research
How to draft appellate briefs by writing the argument section first using legal principles, then backfilling facts
Why young attorneys need intensive reps in writing, research and oral advocacy to develop mastery
How a single presidential term of judicial appointments can shape a circuit's jurisprudence for 30+ years
Why the human element of judgement, preparation and understanding remain relevant in appellate advocacy

Tune in for the full deep dive on navigating appellate law in the age of AI.

Want to watch this episode of Between the Briefs instead? Get the full video on YouTube.

About the Contributors

Joe Stephens

Joe Stephens, J.D., is Steno's Director of Legal Solutions as well as a Clinical Lecturer at Texas Tech University School of Law. With over 15 years of experience in criminal defense and public service, he founded and led Texas' largest rural public defender office, which serves a 12-county area. A graduate of The University of Texas School of Law (cum laude) and Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Stephens currently serves as a Board Member of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer's Association (TCDLA) and sits on multiple State Bar of Texas committees. His expertise spans the intersection of legal practice and technological innovation in the justice system.

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Adrian Cea

Adrian Cea is Steno's Social Media Manager, leading content strategy, audience engagement, and digital brand-building across platforms. He also produces and co-hosts Between the Briefs, Steno's podcast covering the intersection of legal technology, court reporting, and the future of litigation. With a background spanning content creation, field marketing, and sales at companies like Sell Better and Chili Piper, Adrian brings a multi-disciplined lens to making complex legal tech topics accessible and engaging.

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