About Ryan William
Ryan William McAllister trained as an economist before turning to the law. He earned a B.A. in Economics from the College of William and Mary in 2003 and completed his J.D. at Villanova University School of Law in 2006. The shift in disciplines shaped an analytical approach to cases and a methodical style in the courtroom.
His first exposure to the practice came during law school. In the summer of 2004 he served as a law clerk for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. That role gave him hands-on experience with trial procedure, motion practice and the daily realities of a busy county court. Two years later he began work at the Berks County Public Defender’s Office, taking on a full docket and representing clients across a range of criminal matters.
The early years in public defense set the tone for his career. He handled client interviews, courtroom appearances and plea negotiations, and he was responsible for preparing trial files under tight deadlines. Those cases required practical problem solving. They also provided sustained experience in state criminal practice and in the procedures of local courts.
McAllister is licensed in Pennsylvania and admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He holds current memberships in the Pennsylvania State Bar and the Berks County Bar Association. He has kept ties to the local bar since 2006, attending association events and participating in bar activities that keep him connected to the bench and other practitioners.
He later moved into private practice and now practices under the firm name Ebner, Nevins & McAllister, LLC. At the firm he manages both courtroom work and case preparation. His background in public defense informs how he approaches client meetings and case strategy in private practice. He works with clients on procedural matters, evidentiary issues and trial readiness.
Colleagues describe him as pragmatic and detail-oriented; clients seek him out when they want clear explanations of process and options. He is comfortable in state court and has experience filing and arguing matters in federal court when cases require it. Outside the courtroom he stays current on procedural developments and local court rules that affect practice in Berks County and the surrounding jurisdictions.
He currently handles criminal defense and related matters at Ebner, Nevins & McAllister, LLC, representing clients in both state and federal courts.
