Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2020 
Dorothy of Easley Appellate Practice PLLC focuses her work on Appellate Practice nationally, from her office in Miami, Florida. She is the published author of Successful Federal Appeals in All Circuit Courts: A Practical Guide for Busy Lawyers, a practical resource addressing federal appellate procedure and appeal strategies. She has advanced hundreds of appeals. Her work reflects a long-standing interest in legal writing, careful analysis of the record, and clear presentation of complex legal issues to appellate courts.
Dorothy’s background reflects a strong work ethic developed early in life. She grew up on a farm, learned to drive a tractor, and worked on a forestry logging crew for room and board while attending college in the mountains of North Carolina. She earned a Master of Science, summa cum laude, in forest genetics from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY/ESF), where she also served as a Research Fellow. She later received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law. While in law school, she served as Executive Editor of the Inter-American Law Review and worked as a Research Assistant on scholarship addressing constitutional and Latin American law. She also interned with the Third District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida.
Before founding Easley Appellate Practice PLLC in Miami, Dorothy practiced appellate law in large law firm settings and helped build and manage appellate departments. Her professional experience also includes work as a published research scientist in Latin America and service as a university law professor. These roles have contributed to her approach to appellate advocacy, which emphasizes detailed research, precise writing, and thoughtful analysis of the legal issues presented on appeal.
Dorothy is board certified in Appellate Practice by The Florida Bar. Board certification in Appellate Practice is The Florida Bar's highest credential for attorneys specializing in civil, administrative, or criminal appeals. It recognizes attorneys who have demonstrated exceptional competence, highest ethical standards, and extensive experience in state or federal appellate courts. Less than two-tenths of one percent (< 0.2%) of all Florida lawyers are Board Certified in Appellate Practice. here are fewer than 200 attorneys who hold this highly exclusive certification
Dorothy previously served as the elected Chair of the Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section, an organization of more than 1,700 members, and as Vice Chair of the Appellate Court Rules Committee. Through Easley Appellate Practice PLLC, she works closely with a team of appellate attorneys and appellate paralegals on appeals in state and federal courts, including federal appeals throughout the United States.
Her work in Appellate Practice includes briefing, oral argument preparation, and strategic guidance for trial counsel handling matters that may proceed to appeal. Dorothy’s writing and advocacy focus on presenting the record and the law in a clear and persuasive manner for appellate judges reviewing complex cases.
