About Michael Ryan
Michael Ryan Working took a course of study that combined broad liberal arts training and legal education. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Justice and Policy Studies from Guilford College in 1998. He later completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2005.
His early professional life included time in athletics. In 1998 he worked as an offensive coordinator in college football. That experience preceded his formal entry into the legal field and helped shape his approach to teamwork and strategy.
After law school he moved into practice and public service. In 2006 he served as an associate lawyer with the Small Business Administration. That same year he also held the title of chief counsel at The Working Law Office. Those roles placed him at the intersection of government work and private practice, exposing him to regulatory and transactional issues as well as client counseling.
Working has been active in local and statewide legal organizations for many years. Since 2007 he has been a member of the Memphis Bar Association. He also took on a leadership role in the Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, serving as vice-president beginning in 2007 and continuing in that capacity through the present. From 2007 to 2014 he served as president of the Catholic Lawyers Guild, a post that involved organizing programs and coordinating membership activities.
Colleagues describe his practice style as direct and pragmatic. He approaches cases with attention to procedure and detail. He has handled matters that require both courtroom work and negotiation. His background in government work informs how he evaluates regulatory risk and administrative issues.
He maintains a practice based in Tennessee and is affiliated with The Working Law Office. His work there reflects his interest in criminal defense and in matters that intersect with regulatory and small business concerns. He remains active in professional associations and in the legal community.
He is based at The Working Law Office and focuses his practice on criminal defense and related matters.
