Georgia Ryan

Q: What originally attracted you to Lone Star Legal Aid, and what has made you stay?

A: Ten years ago, as a stay-at-home mom, I found myself leaving a 20-year marriage and suddenly becoming solely responsible for raising my two amazing children. Like many of the applicants we serve today, I experienced uncertainty, fear, and the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to turn. At the time, I had no idea organizations like Lone Star Legal Aid even existed.

What originally attracted me to Lone Star Legal Aid, and what has kept me, is the opportunity to be part of an organization whose mission truly changes lives. Their mission statement, “to protect and advance the civil rights of Texans living in poverty by providing free advocacy, legal representation, and community education,” isn’t just something written on a website; it’s something I have the privilege of seeing lived out every day.

Q: What makes the Consumer & Housing Unit a meaningful place to work?

A: The Housing & Consumer Unit is a meaningful place to me because I feel everyone deserves the opportunity to feel safe, secure, and hopeful about their future. Having experienced housing instability myself, I understand how quickly life can change and how deeply the stress of housing or financial uncertainty can affect every part of a person’s life.

Being part of a team that helps protect both housing stability and consumer rights gives me the opportunity to contribute to something much bigger than myself. Every client we help has the chance to rebuild with a stronger foundation, and that’s incredibly meaningful to me.

Q: What is something you’ll never forget from your time working with LSLA clients?

A: Something I will always remember from my time at Lone Star Legal Aid is the opportunity to connect face-to-face with applicants during our courthouse outreach events, while supporting our attorneys and paralegals. Those in-person conversations are incredibly meaningful because we are able to provide compassion, reassurance, and legal help at a time when many applicants are feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. Seeing the immediate impact of that support is something I will always remember.

Q: What has kept you excited about your work over the past seven years?

A: One of the things that has kept me excited about my work over the past seven years is the opportunity to connect with Spanish-speaking applicants. As a child, my first language was Greek because of my heritage. In middle school/high school, we were required to take two years of a foreign language, and because I was fascinated by the idea of learning a third language that I could use to communicate with people regularly, I chose Spanish and ended up taking four years.

When I entered the legal field after college, one of my biggest hopes was to use those language skills to help clients whose first language was not English. Being able to welcome applicants in their own language, helping them feel at ease, letting them know they are understood, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.

Q: How does your role allow you to make a difference in the lives of our clients?

A: As a Legal Secretary in the Housing and Consumer Unit, I am often one of the first points of contact for applicants when they are transferred to our team. Many are navigating difficult circumstances and feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, and emotional. I believe people are placed in our lives for a reason, and connecting with and advocating for others has always been deeply important to me.

I believe every applicant deserves to feel heard from the moment they connect with our team. Taking the time to genuinely listen with compassion can make a meaningful difference during a very stressful time. My role allows me to use my people skills to help clients feel seen, supported, and hopeful from the very beginning of their journey with Lone Star Legal Aid.