He focuses primarily on civil business litigation, writs, appeals, and trust administration and litigation. Ryan became a lawyer for the purpose of practicing animal law and wants to work on advancing animal rights through judicial and legislative avenues. He worked as research attorney for the Nonhuman Rights Project for several years, he interned with the animal protection unit at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, and he has done volunteer legal work for various groups like the Sierra Club and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Ryan is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.