Join
My BHBA+
My BHBA+
Store
Litigation

How to Write Briefs Judges Want to Read

$45

Free for Most Members Join first, then login to BHBA+ to access this series.
According to our records, you are a Array and qualify for unlimited, free CLE OnDemand.
Add to watchlist
View watchlist
How to Write Briefs Judges Want to Read
About the Program

In this program, Ryan McCarl, the author of Elegant Legal Writing, will discuss how attorneys can make briefs more readable and persuasive. Drawing on examples from real litigation filings and concepts informed by cognitive psychology, the program examines how judges process information under constraints of time, attention, and working memory — and how lawyers can structure their briefs to help judges focus on what matters.

Topics include using an approachable prose style, managing complexity, improving document design, and deploying visual aids such as summaries, diagrams, tables, and multimedia evidence. Participants will also explore citation strategy and brief structure, leaving with practical tools for writing filings that are clearer, better organized, and more persuasive.

Ryan McCarl

Speaker(s)
Ryan McCarl
Ryan McCarl

|

Rushing McCarl LLP

Ryan McCarl is the author of Elegant Legal Writing (Univ. Cal. Press 2024), a founding partner of business-litigation boutique Rushing McCarl LLP, and a former AI Law and Policy research fellow at the UCLA School of Law. He has taught advanced legal writing courses at two law schools and presented to audiences including the ABA Litigation Section, Texas Office of the Attorney General, and Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. His scholarship has appeared in the Cincinnati Law Review, Stanford Journal of International Law, and elsewhere. Before co-founding Rushing McCarl LLP, McCarl clerked for the Hon. David M. Ebel on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and practiced at WilmerHale and Hueston Hennigan.

... Read more
Accreditation
Credit Hours:
1.00
Specialty Area:
None
Credit Type:
General
Original Air Date:
June 9, 2026
Accredited in:
California

You may be able to self apply for credits in states not listed. Email for accreditation information in your state.

You May Also Like
Inside California's Judicial Appointments Process with Secretary Céspedes
Managing Conflict Escalation in Legal Matters: Practical Strategies for Maintain
Synthetic Reality & Authentication: New Problems in Evidence
An Update To Your Evidence Preservation Demands And How To Advise Your Clients O
Underlying Biases in Consumer Litigation: Identifying and Challenging Hidden Ass

Watch any CLE and your certificate is automatically emailed to you within minutes and is also stored in your BHBA+ profile for easy access. Login to BHBA+ and effortlessly visualize your CLE credits, monitor deadlines, and stay ahead of your compliance requirements with our intuitive progress tracking. Stream all CLEs on your phone, tablet, and computer when and where they fit your schedule.

This program is free for members at the Sustainer or higher level and OnDemand subscribers. Economy members pay the full rate. Join first, then login to BHBA+ to access this program.

Award-Winning. Nationally Recognized. Always Relevant.

The Beverly Hills Bar Association (BHBA) is an award-winning leader in continuing legal education. Designed by experts from 45 sections, BHBA CLEs go beyond the standard check-the-box format. Each program delivers timely, relevant, and practical insights on today’s most pressing legal issues—giving you a real edge in your practice. With over 1,000 multi-state accredited CLEs spanning dozens of practice areas, BHBA offers engaging programs delivered by top legal experts from across the country. Whether live, OnDemand, or via podcast, you can watch or listen whenever—and wherever—it works for you.

Track your credits automatically with a personalized dashboard that lets you monitor progress, view deadlines, and access certificates—all in one place.

Built for lawyers, by lawyers, to keep you ahead.