Students witness appellate arguments and engage with judges in an extraordinary learning opportunity
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Last month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit visited the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law (UMass Law) for the first time, holding a special off-site sitting in the Commonwealth's only pubic law school. UMass Law students had the rare opportunity to observe live appellate arguments and engage directly with members of one of the nation's most influential courts.
Throughout the morning, the court heard four cases before a full audience of students, faculty, and invited guests. Following oral arguments, the judges and their law clerks participated in a question-and-answer session, offering insights into the appellate process, judicial decision-making, and the path to clerkships and federal practice.
"Hosting the Federal Circuit at UMass Law was an extraordinary privilege," said UMass Law Dean Sam Panarella. "For our students to witness appellate proceedings in person — and to engage with the judges afterward — was an invaluable educational experience. The court's willingness to bring its work directly to law schools reflects a deep commitment to transparency and to inspiring the next generation of lawyers."
After the arguments concluded, students attended a luncheon with the judges and clerks, allowing for informal discussion and mentorship in a more relaxed setting. The event underscored UMass Law's mission of providing practice-based learning experiences that connect classroom instruction to real-world legal practice.
"Hosting the Federal Circuit reminded our students that the law is not only a profession but a public trust — one that depends on fairness, integrity, and access to justice for all," said Assistant Dean for Public Interest Law John Quinn. "Experiences like this inspire students to use their legal education in ways that strengthen their communities."
Following the proceedings, law students reflected on the significance of the experience:
"This experience made a lot of what we learn in class feel real and concrete — not just the rules, but how to present them under pressure," said 3L Mia Petronio '26. "Observing real oral arguments demonstrated that effective advocacy depends as much on preparation and organization as it does on legal knowledge."
"I got excited when Justice Taranto referenced Rule 60 because we had recently discussed that rule in my Civil Procedure class," said 1L Brooklynn Jones '28. "Making that connection helped me feel more engaged and confident in understanding part of the discussion during the arguments."
"Justice Cunningham described appellate advocacy as conversational, a point that has since stuck with me," said 3L Paul Riley '26. "The judges weren't looking for rehearsed speeches—they were engaging with the attorneys to deepen their understanding of each case."
The Federal Circuit's visit reflects its longstanding practice of holding sittings at law schools across the country to promote public understanding of the judiciary. UMass Law is proud to have hosted the court and provided students with a formative, hands-on experience that deepened their understanding of appellate practice and the federal judicial process.
As the only public law school in Massachusetts, public service is a cornerstone of UMass Law's identity. Public Interest Law Fellows receive 50% off tuition and fees in exchange for a commitment to practice public interest law for four years upon graduation. Last spring, the school surpassed a milestone of 250,000 hours of public service and pro bono work. As such, U.S. News & World Report named UMass Law a top 25 law school in the nation for public interest law employment.