Appellate Law Attorney in Lafayette and Crawfordsville
An appeal is not a second trial. It is a precise, deadline-driven process that requires a fundamentally different skill set than trial work — and the window to act is narrow. Whether you are an attorney seeking an appellate referral for your client or you have received an adverse judgment and need experienced appellate representation, deadlines begin running the moment the court enters a final judgment.
At BB&C, Attorney Aaron Spolarich handles criminal, civil, and family law appeals filed in the Court of Appeals of Indiana and Indiana Supreme Court. Having appeared in 215 appellate matters and successfully presented oral arguments before both courts, Aaron brings a depth of appellate experience that is rare among central Indiana practitioners.
When to Contact Aaron
Indiana’s Notice of Appeal deadline is 30 days from final judgment in most cases. Do not wait to get in touch.
To help Aaron assess your case quickly, please include your name, case number, and date of the final order in your email.
You or your client received an adverse judgment and the Notice of Appeal deadline is approaching.
You need appellate co-counsel and want counsel with appellate experience.
Your client was convicted and you believe preserved trial errors support a viable appeal.
A family or civil court ruling was legally deficient and you need appellate review of the case.
Your client wants to challenge a sentence as contrary to law or disproportionate to the offense.
Indiana’s Notice of Appeal deadline is 30 days from final judgment in most cases. Do not wait to get in touch.
To help Aaron assess your case quickly, please include your name, case number, and date of the final order in your email.
Appellate Cases Aaron Works With
Aaron’s appellate practice covers criminal, civil, and family law matters, directly from clients and from referring attorneys.
Criminal Appeals
- Direct appeals of convictions and sentences
- Appeals of OWI, drug, and other criminal convictions
- Analysis of violations of constitutional rights
- Petitions to transfer to the Indiana Supreme Court
Civil Appeals
- Appeals of civil judgments and verdicts
- Contract and business dispute appeals
- Property and real estate dispute appeals
- Interlocutory appeals
- Probate appeals
Family Law Appeals
- Custody and parenting time order appeals
- Dissolution decree appeals
- Child support order appeals
- Property division appeals
Common Questions About Appellate Practice in Indiana
The Notice of Appeal must be filed within 30 days of the entry of final judgment in most civil and criminal cases under Indiana Appellate Rule 9. After the Notice is filed, the appellant’s brief is due 30 days after the completion of the record.
Only issues properly preserved at the trial level are generally available on direct appeal. Evaluating what was preserved — and how well — is one of the first steps in assessing the viability of your appeal. Aaron conducts a thorough record review before advising which issues are worth raising and which presents risk of waiver.
Effective appellate briefs are focused and detailed, but not exhaustive. Raising every possible issue dilutes credibility and gives the court more opportunities to find waiver. A strong brief identifies well-supported issues, applies the correct standard of review rigorously, distinguishes adverse precedent honestly, and presents the argument in a way that gives the panel a clear path to reversal.
Yes. Aaron regularly serves as appellate co-counsel for attorneys whose clients need appellate representation. He can serve as lead appellate counsel while the referring attorney maintains the primary client relationship or provide brief writing and strategy support. Contact Aaron directly to discuss your case and how he can best support your client’s appeal.
Why Choose Aaron Spolarich for Your Appeal
Appellate practice is a specialty that rewards depth of experience over breadth. Here is what Aaron brings to every appeal:
Proven Appellate Track Record
Aaron has appeared in over 215 appellate matters, and has argued before both the Indiana Court of Appeals of Indiana and the Indiana Supreme Court. He also recently presented on appellate practice at the ISBA Solo and Small Firm Conference.
Both Sides of the Record
Having defended judgments on appeal as a state attorney and now challenging them as a private practitioner, Aaron understands how appellate courts think and what arguments are most likely to move a panel.
Trial Attorney Perspective
Aaron reads a trial record differently than an attorney without courtroom experience. He knows what trial errors look like, how they are preserved, and how to frame them persuasively on appeal.
Aaron evaluates appellate merit directly. He will tell you whether the record supports a viable appeal, which issues are worth raising, and what a realistic outcome looks like.
Aaron reads every word of the transcript and exhibits, research, and writes his briefs himself, only deploying AI as a helpful tool and not the author of the brief, so you don’t have to worry about exposure for you or your client.
Co-Counsel Arrangements
Aaron is comfortable in both taking the lead and working in co-counsel arrangements that preserve the referring attorney’s client relationship.
About Aaron Spolarich
Aaron Spolarich is a trial and appellate attorney at BB&C with a career built on courtroom experience and rigorous legal work. He graduated summa cum laude from Wabash College before attending Indiana University Maurer School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and was inducted into the Order of Barristers.
Aaron began his legal career as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Indiana, spending his first two years doing mostly criminal and Department of Child Services appeals. He then served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Indianapolis and Montgomery County, where he tried cases across a range of criminal matters, building a trial record that informs his current appellate work.
At BB&C, Aaron’s practice spans criminal defense, estate planning, family law, business law, and appellate litigation. He brings the perspective of someone who has argued on both sides of the trial and appellate docket, which gives him a clear-eyed view of what courts find persuasive and what they do not.
Serving the Entire State of Indiana for Appellate Matters
Aaron Spolarich practices from BB&C’s offices in Lafayette and Crawfordsville and handles appeals throughout Indiana. Appeals are time-sensitive by nature — the earlier you make contact, the more options are available.
Contact Aaron directly at [email protected]. To help Aaron assess your case quickly, please include your name, case number, and date of the final order.