About Ryan D.
Ryan D. Very took a path through philosophy to the law. He earned a B.A. in Politics-Philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010, then pursued graduate study in philosophy at Boston University, receiving an M.A. in 2013. He completed his legal training at Boston University School of Law, where he obtained his J.D. in 2013. Those academic choices shaped the way he approaches legal questions: careful, analytical and attentive to principle.
His early legal work included a stint as a law fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union in 2013. That position placed him on matters that raised constitutional and civil-liberties issues. Two years later he opened his own practice. Since 2015 he has served as proprietor of Very Law PLLC, running a small firm that handles a range of client matters.
Very is admitted to practice before the courts of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. Those admissions reflect the kinds of proceedings he takes on, and they allow him to appear in both state and federal forums. He has remained engaged in work that intersects individual rights, administrative process and courtroom advocacy.
He has maintained steady involvement in the bar and in nonprofit legal circles. He is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He also participates in the ACLU Legal Committee and sits on a Hearing Committee of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Within the local legal community he chairs the County Lawyer Referral Committee, a role that connects the public to lawyers through a managed referral process.
Colleagues describe Very as thoughtful in preparing cases and direct in court. His background in philosophy shows up in written arguments. He tends to frame disputes around clear legal questions, then builds a record to answer them. He balances litigation work with client counseling, often handling procedural and evidentiary matters that arise early in a case.
Over the last decade he has run a small practice that emphasizes hands-on client service. Very Law PLLC has operated under his sole proprietorship since 2015, and he continues to handle matters that require appearances in state and federal venues. His current practice focuses on client representation and legal advice through Very Law PLLC.
