Biography
M. Ryan Mullis has been a family law practitioner for just about her entire legal career which begins well before passing the Georgia bar in 2014.
You could say her legal career began all the way back in 4th grade, with a class project Mock Trial of The Three Bears v. Goldilocks (they were suing her for breaking and entering and property damage, of course). This project was an entire pretend trial from opening to witness examination to evidence presentation to closing argument – all in front of an actual Judge in Gwinnett County Superior Court. (Fun fact – Ryan has actually had family law cases in her actual practice in front of this same Judge, it was a full circle moment!).
Ryan continued her legal practice and refinement through the Mock Trial program in high school, winning several awards for Outstanding Witness, Outstanding Attorney, and helping her school’s team even compete at the State level. The Mock Trial practice continued through college and law school. Needless to say, Ryan is a seasoned litigator!
Ryan centers her practice on a tailored approach – really getting into the family dynamics of each case and detailing a focus and narrowed strategy to guide each family through one of the most difficult chapters in their lives. Ryan has been described as a “black panther” – a strategy that is focused, honed in, but may be surprising to the opposition.
Ryan has presented on various family law topics numerous times, ranging from LGBTQ+ issues in family law matters, alternative family dynamics in family law matters, and parental alienation. She even spoke with her sister (who has a PhD in family communications and wrote her dissertation on parental alienation) at the National Parental Alienation conference in 2024.
Outside of her family law practice, Ryan is a dancer! She practices swing, ballroom and Latin styles and even competes every so often – yes, just like Dancing with the Stars!
Interesting Facts
Ryan’s strategy is quiet but pointed. Sometimes, Opposing Counsel will underestimate her, thinking she can’t handle herself in Court – but look at all that trial experience, that is Opposing Counsel’s mistake!
Ryan really gets to the heart of each family’s issues and pain points – what are their goals and wishes for their family? What will be best for the children, not just right now, but long term as well? As a child of divorce herself, Ryan feels strongly committed to keeping children at the focus and really working toward what is in their best interests. Sometimes, that’s a carefully crafted settlement that both parents work together to create. Other times, it really is necessary to get a GAL or Judge’s involvement.
Ryan graduated with honors with two degrees from the University of Georgia in 2011 – those degrees being Spanish and Psychology. She then completed her JD at the University of Georgia School of Law in 2014, passing the 2014 July Bar Exam.
Ryan has a special place in her heart for helping her community – she spent her first internship in law school with Legal Aid and continued to conduct pro bono work in her practice after graduation. She even worked at the Family Law Clinic and Lawyer in the Law Library programs in her home county for several years.
