Author of Elegant Legal Writing (Book: bit.ly/elw-book | Blog: elegantlegalwriting.com) and founding partner of litigation firm Rushing McCarl LLP (rushingmccarl.com). I’m mainly on LinkedIn and elsewhere: linktr.ee/ryanmccarlhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3mc6jcz6csk2bChildren’s books that young kids will love and adults can tolerate. https://secondstage.substack.com/p/recommended-books-for-babies-and-toddlers #education #parenting #books https://secondstage.substack.com/p/recommended-books-for-babies-and-toddlers#education11 Jan 2026 21:55 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mc6jcz6csk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3lshgnva4kc23Excellent writing skills will continue to distinguish elite attorneys even in the age of AI. Here are a few reasons why. https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/ai-cannot-replace-legal-writing-expertise #legalwriting25 Jun 2025 20:18 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lshgnva4kc23https://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kjo7auiu3n2pAlways write substantive conclusions in legal briefs. Don't waste opportunities to persuade a judge by concluding litigation briefs with contentless ritual phrases. https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/always-include-substantive-conclusions?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true23 Jan 2024 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kjo7auiu3n2phttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kjbyvaxrb42tInstead of telling the judge or jury what the evidence shows, show them the evidence and help them draw appropriate inferences from that evidence. #law #legalwriting #litigation #trials https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/persuade-judges-with-visual-aids?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true18 Jan 2024 22:16 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kjbyvaxrb42thttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3lkows7id7c2cHave you ever heard about dictators seizing power and assumed America is different — that we’re a free country and it can’t happen here? It’s happening. Americans are on the brink of losing their constitutional democracy. https://secondstage.substack.com/p/this-is-how-liberty-ends #law #politics19 Mar 2025 00:34 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkows7id7c2chttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3lkjev5eioc2xThere’s nothing either conservative or liberal about officials flouting their oath to uphold the constitution and working to unravel our liberal democracy. It’s time to speak up and resist. #law https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af#16 Mar 2025 19:31 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lkjev5eioc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3lin2btpv7k2aI gave a presentation to undergraduates at USC yesterday. This post shares the slideshow I used, which contains practical writing tips that are equally useful for nonlawyers, and a handout I distribute whenever I talk with college students. https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/writing-tips-for-undergraduates #legalwriting20 Feb 2025 19:41 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lin2btpv7k2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3lig64astdk25I always appreciate it when people help me spread the word about Elegant Legal Writing so more attorneys and law students discover it. #legalwriting #lawyers #law [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Feb 2025 02:01 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lig64astdk25https://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3lgey7sd7js27Reading literary prose can refresh your mind and improve your writing by exposing you to fresh language, new ideas, and unfamiliar vocabulary. #legalwriting #law #writing #books https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/read-widely-to-tune-ear-for-language?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false23 Jan 2025 03:52 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgey7sd7js27https://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3ldjlnsklz226Use executive summaries in litigation briefs. This design move helps ensure that judges won’t overlook your best argument. https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/use-executive-summaries-in-litigation-briefs?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #legalwriting #law #lawyers17 Dec 2024 19:35 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ldjlnsklz226https://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kmiyiuepah2pReply briefs are essential advocacy tools in pretrial motions and appeals. Here are some strategies for making the most of your last opportunity to persuade the judge before your motion or appeal is heard. https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/how-to-write-great-reply-briefs?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true28 Feb 2024 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmiyiuepah2phttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kx36zsypw52rI'm giving a free webinar hosted by Justia today: "Logic for Lawyers: Crafting Persuasive Legal Arguments." Friday, July 12 at 2pm EST / 11 am PST. Here's a link: https://connect.justia.com/webinars/logic-for-lawyers-crafting-persuasive-legal-arguments #lawyers #legalwriting #lawschool #law12 Jul 2024 09:10 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kx36zsypw52rhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3ktawd4lotc25The main difference between experts and novices is that the former have vastly broader, more detailed, and more accurate mental models. Anything that can help you build those models is worth doing; gradually fill in the blanks and map the terrain you hope to master. #education #lawschool #learning24 May 2024 18:09 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3ktawd4lotc25https://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kr2q2kh6zj2vI enjoyed speaking with Khurram Naik on his podcast “Khurram’s Quorum.” We discussed a range of topics, including the relevance of aesthetics and design principles to legal writing, my influences and favorite nonfiction writers, and more. https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/new-legal-writing-interview-ryan-mccarl #law26 Apr 2024 20:11 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kr2q2kh6zj2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kqqoew5akf23Here’s an interview I did with a DC Bar podcast discussing legal writing, AI, tips for law students, and other topics: https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/dc-bar-interview-with-ryan-mccarl #law #lawschool #legalwriting #AI22 Apr 2024 20:14 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kqqoew5akf23https://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kp6pz5qaks2jLawyers and law students should forget about IRAC and CREAC. Instead, think of legal arguments as conclusions backed by reasons; the reasons consist of linked propositions of law and fact. https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/build-legal-arguments-around-propositions #lawyers #lawschool #legalwriting02 Apr 2024 23:30 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kp6pz5qaks2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kouemyjio42xGood news for busy attorneys: an audio version of Elegant Legal Writing will be published on April 16! You can preorder it on Audible at bit.ly/elw-audible. #legalwriting #law #writing https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/elw-updates-new-elegant-legal-writing-audiobook29 Mar 2024 20:40 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kouemyjio42xhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3koa26hlqlj2wA point heading I recently revised illustrates four techniques recommended in Elegant Legal Writing: 1. Check your sentences’ logic. 2. Simplify and hyphenate compound adjectives. 3. Tighten your sentences by rooting out hidden redundancy. 4. Use action verbs. #legalwriting #writing #law https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/quick-writing-fixes-point-heading21 Mar 2024 18:39 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3koa26hlqlj2whttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3knjv7orfxk2lHere are the slides from my talk "Beyond IRAC and CREAC: Alternative Models of Legal Reasoning," which I presented this week at the Rocky Mountain Legal Writing Conference. https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/legal-reasoning-beyond-irac-and-creac?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #law #legalwriting #lawschool12 Mar 2024 23:12 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3knjv7orfxk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kmiyiuepah2pReply briefs are essential advocacy tools in pretrial motions and appeals. Here are some strategies for making the most of your last opportunity to persuade the judge before your motion or appeal is heard. https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/how-to-write-great-reply-briefs?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true28 Feb 2024 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmiyiuepah2phttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kmgpyxv5is2wEarly reviews of Ryan McCarl's Elegant Legal Writing https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/early-reviews-of-elegant-legal-writing?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true27 Feb 2024 23:36 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmgpyxv5is2whttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kmbj4suxts2cI appeared on the Lawyers in the Making podcast this week to discuss my book Elegant Legal Writing, self-education, advice for law students, and many other topics. https://www.elegantlegalwriting.com/p/lifelong-learning-legal-writing-and?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web25 Feb 2024 21:49 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kmbj4suxts2chttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kjo7auiu3n2pAlways write substantive conclusions in legal briefs. Don't waste opportunities to persuade a judge by concluding litigation briefs with contentless ritual phrases. https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/always-include-substantive-conclusions?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true23 Jan 2024 18:42 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kjo7auiu3n2phttps://bsky.app/profile/ryanmccarl.bsky.social/post/3kjbyvaxrb42tInstead of telling the judge or jury what the evidence shows, show them the evidence and help them draw appropriate inferences from that evidence. #law #legalwriting #litigation #trials https://open.substack.com/pub/elegantlegalwriting/p/persuade-judges-with-visual-aids?r=1nw2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcome=true18 Jan 2024 22:16 +0000at://did:plc:y3fanyqhbf7mt56mwudoqwvb/app.bsky.feed.post/3kjbyvaxrb42t