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Quick writing fixes: sentence logic, compound adjectives, hidden redundancy, and action verbs
A point heading I recently revised illustrates four techniques recommended in Elegant Legal Writing.
Mar 21
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Ryan McCarl
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Quick writing fixes: sentence logic, compound adjectives, hidden redundancy, and action verbs
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Align legal arguments with the motion’s procedural posture.
Procedural posture should be top of mind when deciding how to write your brief and what authority to rely on.
Mar 19
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Ryan McCarl
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Align legal arguments with the motion’s procedural posture.
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Beyond IRAC and CREAC: Alternative Models of Legal Reasoning
Difficult legal questions usually involve disputed rules and disputed or ambiguous facts. Treating these as static and objectively given usually misses…
Mar 9
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Ryan McCarl
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Beyond IRAC and CREAC: Alternative Models of Legal Reasoning
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Don’t disparage opponents in your litigation filings.
Litigation should focus on the parties and their claims, not the attorneys and their personalities.
Mar 7
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Ryan McCarl
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Don’t disparage opponents in your litigation filings.
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Provide factual context for contested citations.
When citing precedents, you often need to provide some factual context to assure the reader that they apply.
Mar 6
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Ryan McCarl
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Provide factual context for contested citations.
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February 2024
How to write great reply briefs
Reply briefs are essential in motion and appellate practice. Here are some strategies to help you make the most of your last opportunity to persuade the…
Feb 28
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Ryan McCarl
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How to write great reply briefs
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Early reviews of Elegant Legal Writing
Elegant Legal Writing has only been published for three weeks, but it has received rave reviews throughout the legal profession.
Feb 27
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Ryan McCarl
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Early reviews of Elegant Legal Writing
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Lifelong learning, legal writing, and the privilege of practicing law: an interview with Ryan McCarl
Ryan McCarl appeared on the Lawyers in the Making podcast to discuss legal writing, what he learned from founding a tech startup, and more in a…
Feb 25
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Maria Cafferata
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Lifelong learning, legal writing, and the privilege of practicing law: an interview with Ryan McCarl
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Write with your audience in mind.
Lawyers often focus more on what they want to say than on what a judge needs to hear. This post discusses some audience-related mistakes that abound in…
Feb 20
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Ryan McCarl
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Write with your audience in mind.
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Writing lessons from Rushing McCarl LLP’s Stanley Tumbler class action complaint
See Ryan McCarl’s writing tips in action by reading Rushing McCarl LLP’s putative class action complaint against the creators of Stanley Tumblers.
Feb 6
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Ryan McCarl
and
Maria Cafferata
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Writing lessons from Rushing McCarl LLP’s Stanley Tumbler class action complaint
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On publishing Elegant Legal Writing
Publishing Elegant Legal Writing didn’t feel real until the advances arrived from the University of California Press. Here’s why I am proud of the book…
Feb 4
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Ryan McCarl
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On publishing Elegant Legal Writing
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Keep procedural history sections short but persuasive.
Discuss your case’s procedural history section in a separate section of your legal brief, and keep the discussion short while using it to persuade.
Feb 3
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Ryan McCarl
3
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Keep procedural history sections short but persuasive.
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