E168 | And, But, So: Practical Legal-Writing Tips from the Brief-Writing Ninja | Chris Schandevel

Opposing counsel once called Chris Schandevel a "brief-writing ninja." He took it as a compliment. Years later, as he considered ways to add value to attorneys coming up behind him, Chris channeled that nickname into a side job: Brief-Writing Ninja, his training platform to help lawyers improve their writing skills. Why? Because good writing is good writing—whether you’re writing for a court or a high school essay. In this conversation with hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders, Chris shares practical tips such as replacing “moreover” with “and”; “nevertheless” with “even still”; and “accordingly” or “however” with “but.” The panel deliberates over questions that should concern any writer. Can you start a sentence with a conjunction? Should lawyers master “styles” in Word? Is Century Schoolbook a worthy font? Tune in for the answers. 0:00 Introduction to Chris Schandevel 4:17 Discovering ADF Through a College Blog Post 12:43 How Church Public Speaking Prepared Chris for Oral Argument 18:08 Preparing for Oral Argument While Writing the Brief 25:03 Working on Supreme Court Cases at ADF 31:58 Launching Brief Writing Ninja 38:10 Why Lawyers Should Start More Sentences with “And,” “But,” and “So” 42:27 Why Chris Prefers Left-Aligned Briefs 51:43 Taking Orphan/Widow Control to the Next Level 57:20 Why Lawyers Should Keep Using Em Dashes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Texas Appellate Law Podcast Episode 168 Original Air Date: May 28, 2026 The views expressed by the participants of this podcast are their own, and not those of their law firms, courts, or employers. Nothing you hear on this show establishes an attorney-client relationship, or is legal advice. Produced and Powered by LawPods. Sponsored by Court Surety Bond Agency and Proceed (formerly Counsel Press). texapplawpod.com