Anne Ralph
@anneralph.bsky.social
Storyteller, lawyer, professor. #LegalStorytelling, #LegalWriting, litigation/ #CivPro, legal ed. Views my own.
Pinned
Anne Ralph
@anneralph.bsky.social
· Sep 5
Lawyers have an ethical obligation to write well. Every lawyer can be a good writer. Every good legal writer can get better. Law students can learn to be good legal writers by studying #LegalWriting w/professionalized faculty who follow pedagogical best practices.
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1) Jane Austen
2) Postcolonial Literature of South Africa
3) Dostoevsky’s Russia
4) Medieval Art & Architecture
5) Aristotle
1) Jane Austen
2) Postcolonial Literature of South Africa
3) Dostoevsky’s Russia
4) Medieval Art & Architecture
5) Aristotle
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1) Ghost Dances and Great Awakenings
2) Classic Texts in American Religious History
3) Native American Social Movements
4) Jesuits and Justice
5) American Religion and Politics
1) Ghost Dances and Great Awakenings
2) Classic Texts in American Religious History
3) Native American Social Movements
4) Jesuits and Justice
5) American Religion and Politics
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. American Jewish Immigration History
2. Ancient Greek (that was rough)
3. Int'l Relations Theory
4. Modern Poetry
5. Slavery in World History (the class that sparked an interest that became my career)
1. American Jewish Immigration History
2. Ancient Greek (that was rough)
3. Int'l Relations Theory
4. Modern Poetry
5. Slavery in World History (the class that sparked an interest that became my career)
January 31, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1) Jane Austen
2) Postcolonial Literature of South Africa
3) Dostoevsky’s Russia
4) Medieval Art & Architecture
5) Aristotle
1) Jane Austen
2) Postcolonial Literature of South Africa
3) Dostoevsky’s Russia
4) Medieval Art & Architecture
5) Aristotle
Reposted by Anne Ralph
I'm not so sure about this. Most legal research and legal writing profs I know are working to instill a healthy skepticism into the AI research process. My sense is most students are very cautious about relying on AI results and see how bad they often are.
Honestly, I'm terrified of what's going to happen with new lawyers. They are really being trained to use and rely on AI research in law school, and I feel like I'm waiting for the clock to hit zero on a time bomb.
January 28, 2026 at 6:18 PM
I'm not so sure about this. Most legal research and legal writing profs I know are working to instill a healthy skepticism into the AI research process. My sense is most students are very cautious about relying on AI results and see how bad they often are.
Folks, using alt-text is *not hard* to do. Plus it’s the right thing to do. Do it. (Yes, I’m updating all my class materials for digital accessibility and I just had the pleasure of writing alt-text for an image of Jack McCoy addressing the jury in an episode of “Law & Order”.)
January 20, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Folks, using alt-text is *not hard* to do. Plus it’s the right thing to do. Do it. (Yes, I’m updating all my class materials for digital accessibility and I just had the pleasure of writing alt-text for an image of Jack McCoy addressing the jury in an episode of “Law & Order”.)
Being able to admit one was wrong is a superpower.
January 15, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Being able to admit one was wrong is a superpower.
“The classroom is not a space to just pass along information. It is a space where we think together and write together. Without shortcuts. We learn what it means to do the work ourselves.”
www.chronicle.com/article/im-a...
www.chronicle.com/article/im-a...
Opinion | I’m an AI Power User. It Has No Place in the Classroom.
Learning to think for yourself has to come first.
www.chronicle.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:08 PM
“The classroom is not a space to just pass along information. It is a space where we think together and write together. Without shortcuts. We learn what it means to do the work ourselves.”
www.chronicle.com/article/im-a...
www.chronicle.com/article/im-a...
🧵on getting through “friction” related to writing, and why not to short-circuit the process (i.e. why not to skip the hurdles by using generative AI).
Broke my post-break malaise about approaching writing with the self-command: "You've got one hour, write this thing! You've done it before!"
It worked. 1200 words in 60 minutes. Sometimes you just have to remind yourself what you're capable of.
It worked. 1200 words in 60 minutes. Sometimes you just have to remind yourself what you're capable of.
January 6, 2026 at 3:32 PM
🧵on getting through “friction” related to writing, and why not to short-circuit the process (i.e. why not to skip the hurdles by using generative AI).
We’re going back to 1996 for this one: ”You’re the smartest nice person I’ve ever met.”
Forget insults, what’s the most unhinged *compliment* you’ve ever received?
December 31, 2025 at 2:25 PM
We’re going back to 1996 for this one: ”You’re the smartest nice person I’ve ever met.”
Wordle 1,654 1/6
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
It was bound to work one day—and today’s that day! Need a new starting word 😊
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
It was bound to work one day—and today’s that day! Need a new starting word 😊
December 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Wordle 1,654 1/6
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
It was bound to work one day—and today’s that day! Need a new starting word 😊
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
It was bound to work one day—and today’s that day! Need a new starting word 😊
I’m a house-cleaner-turned-amateur-detective
Well, now I'm an English professor...
December 29, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I’m a house-cleaner-turned-amateur-detective
Reposted by Anne Ralph
Not always.
December 28, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Not always.
“The study also showed … women were more likely to think about their punctuation choices, … underscoring the invisible cognitive labor that often shapes women’s communication.”
Women worry about not seeming warm, so they use exclamation points. But they’re worried about not being seen as competent or powerful, and worry that exclamation marks undermine that. Men, the research shows, don’t think about any of that. @josiecox.bsky.social
www.fastcompany.com/91447607/the...
www.fastcompany.com/91447607/the...
The high-stakes politics of exclamation points
New research shows that a single keystroke shapes perceptions of credibility, likability, and authority—and exposes striking gender differences in how we use language.
www.fastcompany.com
December 21, 2025 at 2:26 PM
“The study also showed … women were more likely to think about their punctuation choices, … underscoring the invisible cognitive labor that often shapes women’s communication.”
It’s hard to see how this is a value proposition for firms. And it’s causing much unnecessary stress for 1Ls.
In a first, many top law firms this year are recruiting summer associates during students' first semester. Some are dangling ‘jumbo offers’ and ‘loyalty’ bonuses for students who do two summer stints back-to-back, keeping them out of other firms' reach reut.rs/44U44cD
December 18, 2025 at 9:57 PM
It’s hard to see how this is a value proposition for firms. And it’s causing much unnecessary stress for 1Ls.
Reposted by Anne Ralph
Have you noticed how many ads are stretching grammar lately? "Spread the happy," "Let's movie," "It feels good to Geico"?
@byagoda.bsky.social tracked down 60+ examples of ads using anthimeria — words shifting to different parts of speech.
www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/the...
1/2
@byagoda.bsky.social tracked down 60+ examples of ads using anthimeria — words shifting to different parts of speech.
www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/the...
1/2
December 6, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Have you noticed how many ads are stretching grammar lately? "Spread the happy," "Let's movie," "It feels good to Geico"?
@byagoda.bsky.social tracked down 60+ examples of ads using anthimeria — words shifting to different parts of speech.
www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/the...
1/2
@byagoda.bsky.social tracked down 60+ examples of ads using anthimeria — words shifting to different parts of speech.
www.quickanddirtytips.com/articles/the...
1/2
The great @katiepryal.bsky.social has a new piece on neurodiversity in media that is so timely—and so needed.
Why It Still Hurts to Watch Neurodiversity in Hollywood (and what we can do about it)
:: So what’s the problem? Shouldn't we be thrilled to see neurodivergent characters on screen at all? No.
:: So what’s the problem? Shouldn't we be thrilled to see neurodivergent characters on screen at all? No.
Why It Still Hurts to Watch Neurodiversity in Hollywood (and what we can do about it)
:: So what’s the problem? Shouldn't we be thrilled to see neurodivergent characters on screen at all? No.
katieroseguestpryal.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:06 PM
The great @katiepryal.bsky.social has a new piece on neurodiversity in media that is so timely—and so needed.
Reposted by Anne Ralph
Today is THE Game! Every day is a great day to be a Buckeye, but especially today! Go Bucks! Beat ❌ichigan!
November 29, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Today is THE Game! Every day is a great day to be a Buckeye, but especially today! Go Bucks! Beat ❌ichigan!
realizing I have a consistent holiday persona and it’s “worried we don’t have enough butter, should I go back to the store?”
November 25, 2025 at 9:02 PM
realizing I have a consistent holiday persona and it’s “worried we don’t have enough butter, should I go back to the store?”
🚨ALERT🚨 We are entering the season in which I may earnestly wish you & your loved ones (a) a nice Thanksgiving; (b) a peaceful & bright December; and/or (c) health & happiness in the New Year. I really mean it. Govern yourselves accordingly.
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
🚨ALERT🚨 We are entering the season in which I may earnestly wish you & your loved ones (a) a nice Thanksgiving; (b) a peaceful & bright December; and/or (c) health & happiness in the New Year. I really mean it. Govern yourselves accordingly.
Looking forward to hearing from my @ohiostatelaw.bsky.social colleague Ned Foley (in a “fireside chat” w/colleague Steve Huefner) on Why American Democracy is in Such Peril.
November 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Looking forward to hearing from my @ohiostatelaw.bsky.social colleague Ned Foley (in a “fireside chat” w/colleague Steve Huefner) on Why American Democracy is in Such Peril.
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
November 17, 2025 at 1:51 AM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16?
Happy New Ken Burns on PBS Day to all who celebrate!
November 17, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Happy New Ken Burns on PBS Day to all who celebrate!
Fell back in love with Chicago this weekend. I got a latte at BlueBottle Coffee in Tribune Tower by the river and walked the Magnificent Mile to the Lake Michigan lakefront. Midwest forever.
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Fell back in love with Chicago this weekend. I got a latte at BlueBottle Coffee in Tribune Tower by the river and walked the Magnificent Mile to the Lake Michigan lakefront. Midwest forever.
I have fulfilled my two civic duties today:
✅ Voted in local elections 🗳️
✅ Purchased homemade baked goods at the PTO bake sale at my polling place 🍪
✅ Voted in local elections 🗳️
✅ Purchased homemade baked goods at the PTO bake sale at my polling place 🍪
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I have fulfilled my two civic duties today:
✅ Voted in local elections 🗳️
✅ Purchased homemade baked goods at the PTO bake sale at my polling place 🍪
✅ Voted in local elections 🗳️
✅ Purchased homemade baked goods at the PTO bake sale at my polling place 🍪
