by Rick Ruppenthal

Understanding the Ladder of Inference in Law

A wooden ladder resting horizontally on a modern conference table with a city skyline blurred behind it, symbolizing intentional thinking and grounded decision-making

Lawyers in Suits climb the Ladder of Inference on purpose — it’s literally their job. But in real life, we climb it accidentally, and that’s where the trouble begins. This short follow-up explores why legal reasoning works in courtrooms but creates chaos in personal relationships, and how seeing the ladder helps us make clearer, wiser choices. Read More

by Rick Ruppenthal

The Ladder of Inference Creates Bad Judgements and Suits Proves It Every Episode

Cinematic image of a wooden ladder fading into clouds of thought, set in a soft office–courtroom environment reminiscent of Suits, symbolizing how assumptions create faulty conclusions

We’ve been binge-watching Suits, and it turns out the show is a masterclass in spotting the Ladder of Inference. Harvey, Louis, Mike, Donna, Gretchen — each gives us a front-row seat to how quickly we can jump to conclusions and act on assumptions. This blog explores the ladder, why we all climb it, and how to step off it with more clarity and insight. Read More