May 1, 2020

Local Attorney Selected to Head Springfield Office of Community Legal Aid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Thomas Navin, Development Director
Phone: (413) 727-7115
Email: tnavin@cla-ma.org

Community Legal Aid is pleased to announce that Corrine Ryan has been selected as the new Managing Attorney for its Springfield office. In this position, Ms. Ryan will oversee the Hampden County operations of Community Legal Aid, a non-profit organization that provides free legal services to low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts.

As Managing Attorney, Ms. Ryan will oversee a staff of approximately 30 attorneys, paralegals, AmeriCorps advocates and support staff who provide civil (non-criminal) legal assistance to elders facing abuse or exploitation, at-risk students needing school-based services, victims of domestic violence, individuals and families facing homelessness, and those in need of benefits, including food stamps, Social Security/SSI, and unemployment. She will also oversee special projects that connect underserved populations with the services provided by Community Legal Aid, including a Medical-Legal Partnership with the BeHealthy Partnership Accountable Care Organization, which brings medical and legal professionals together to assist the most vulnerable patients in the Springfield area.

Since joining Community Legal Aid’s Springfield office in 2013, Ms. Ryan has focused her practice in disability and education law. She has advocated on behalf of claimants seeking Social Security benefits and has helped students secure special education services, enforce their legal rights, and overcome obstacles that impede their future success. She has led several legal trainings to educate private attorneys, social service providers, and community groups on the complexities of Social Security’s disability programs and on the rights of students in school.

A Hampden County native, Ms. Ryan attended Ludlow Public Schools. After graduating from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, she attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. planning to pursue a public interest career in disability rights. While substitute teaching during her summers in college, Ms. Ryan was inspired by the special education students she met. After obtaining her law degree, Ms. Ryan then chose to return to her roots in Western Massachusetts, to give back to the community that she calls home. She is a member of the Hampden County Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Square One (formerly the Springfield Day Nursery), a leading provider of early childhood education and family support services.

“My work has given me insight into the challenges faced by Hampden County’s most vulnerable members, including dealing with heavily-regulated agencies, accessing vital medical and mental health services, and connecting to community resources,” said Ms. Ryan. “I always strive to leave my clients in a better position, through new educational opportunities, monetary resources, and increased knowledge about their rights and options. I’m thrilled to lead CLA’s Springfield office and collaborate with community leaders and the local bar to continue to work toward that goal on a larger scale.”

In announcing Ms. Ryan’s new position, Jonathan Mannina, Executive Director of Community Legal Aid, said, “We are delighted that Corrine is joining our management team. As a leader in Social Security and education law, she has been a creative and passionate advocate for our client communities. Born and raised in Hampden County, Corrine is very involved in the community and I am confident that she will do an excellent job expanding our outreach efforts here.”

About Community Legal Aid:

Community Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to the low-income and elderly residents of the five counties of Central and Western Massachusetts (Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester). The organization maintains full-time offices in Worcester, Fitchburg, Springfield, Northampton, and Pittsfield. Community Legal Aid works to assure fairness for all in the justice system, protecting homes, livelihoods, health and families.

Our client communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak continue to need our services and we are committed to meeting those needs while balancing public safety and individual health. Although our brick-and-mortar offices are now open by appointment only and most of our staff are working remotely, we remain committed to serving the low-income and elderly residents of Central and Western Massachusetts. For more information on Community Legal Aid please visit www.communitylegal.org.