briefing schedule

Definition

The court-ordered timeline for submitting written legal arguments, usually optimistically short and routinely extended. The deadlines that keep lawyers up at night and caffeinate throughout the day.

Example Usage

We requested an extension to the briefing schedule because opposing counsel dumped 10,000 pages on us yesterday.

Origin

From standard court procedural requirements for written submissions

Fun Fact

The word 'brief' is hilariously ironic—appellate briefs can run to 50+ pages and reference hundreds of cases.

Source: Litigation practice terminology

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