Appeals & Post-Conviction Work.
Having an experienced appellate attorney is essential to making the most of an opportunity to appeal a conviction. The lawyers at Benzaken, Sheehan & Wood, LLP are seasoned appellate advocates with a strong command of appellate procedure and the lens through which courts review legal issues on appeal.
Appeals Court · SJC · First Circuit
Persuasive advocacy at every appellate level.
Disciplined issue selection. Persuasive briefing. Confident oral argument.
After dissecting the trial record, we prioritize and advance the strongest legal issues in an appellate brief — framing each through the standard of review the appellate court will actually apply. We then present those issues persuasively in writing and at oral argument.
In addition to direct appeals, our team can assess the procedural and substantive history of a case to investigate every avenue for post-conviction review and action, including engaging with integrity review units of District Attorneys' Offices, motions for new trial, motions to vacate guilty pleas, and motions to revise and revoke.
From direct appeal through every form of collateral review.
Our appellate and post-conviction practice spans state and federal court — direct appeals, motions for new trial, motions to vacate guilty pleas, motions to revise and revoke, and engagement with conviction integrity units.
Direct Criminal Appeals
Briefing and oral argument before the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
Motions for New Trial
Mass. R. Crim. P. 30(b) motions raising newly discovered evidence, ineffective assistance, and constitutional violations after conviction.
Motions to Vacate Guilty Pleas
Withdrawing pleas under Rule 30 — including challenges based on immigration consequences, plea colloquy defects, and counsel errors.
Motions to Revise & Revoke
Mass. R. Crim. P. 29 motions to reduce or restructure a sentence within the limited window after disposition.
Integrity Review Units
Engaging with District Attorneys' conviction integrity review units to revisit cases involving evidence problems or wrongful convictions.
Federal Post-Conviction (§ 2255)
Federal habeas corpus motions under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 challenging sentences and convictions in U.S. District Court.
Sentencing Appeals
Challenging sentencing errors, guideline calculations, and unreasonable sentences in both state and federal proceedings.
Habeas & State Collateral Relief
Pursuing collateral remedies and habeas relief when constitutional violations require review beyond the direct appeal.
Every avenue investigated. Every remedy considered.
When direct appeal is not enough — or has already concluded — we investigate and pursue every available form of post- conviction relief in state and federal court.
When the trial ends, the work continues.
Our team can assess the procedural and substantive history of a case to investigate potential avenues for post-conviction review and action — including engaging with integrity review units of District Attorneys' Offices, pursuing motions for a new trial, motions to vacate a guilty plea, and motions to revise and revoke.
Whether your case calls for newly discovered evidence analysis, an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, or a challenge to a plea entered without full advice on immigration or sentencing consequences, we will identify the strongest path forward.
- Engaging with District Attorney integrity review units
- Motions for new trial under Mass. R. Crim. P. 30(b)
- Motions to vacate guilty pleas under Rule 30
- Motions to revise and revoke under Rule 29
Record-Driven Advocacy
Every transcript page read. Every issue weighed.
Four stages from trial record to post-conviction relief.
Trial Record Dissection
Every appeal begins with a meticulous review of the trial transcripts, exhibits, and lower court rulings to surface every preserved — and unpreserved — issue.
Issue Selection & Briefing
We prioritize and advance the strongest legal issues, knowing that disciplined issue selection wins appeals more often than scattershot argument.
Oral Argument
Our attorneys present persuasively at the appellate podium — answering tough questions and reinforcing the briefed record under live questioning.
Post-Conviction Action
When direct review ends, we evaluate every avenue — Rule 30 motions, integrity review, plea-vacation motions, and § 2255 — to keep fighting.
Considering an Appeal?
Appellate deadlines are short and unforgiving. Speak with an experienced appellate attorney about your case as soon as possible.
Real attorneys.
One call away.
When the call comes in, you speak with a partner not a screener. Every consultation is confidential, and we respond to every inquiry, typically within hours.
Brockton, MA 02301
After-hours by appointment