According to Merriam-Webster, a pitfall is a "danger or problem that is hidden or not obvious at first." If you're a lawyer who specializes in appeals, the "hidden problems" in appellate practice we highlight below are obvious, or at least well known. If you only occasionally have an appeal, however, and wish not to be caught off-guard, here are 10 pitfall to avoid:

(1) Miscalculating the date on which a court of appeal opinion becomes "final."

Originally published in the Daily Journal on February 27, 2014.