Her Story
About Virginia
Virginia Ryan, J.D., is an estate planning and business law attorney and founder of the Law Office of Virginia Ryan. Licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and California, she has more than 25 years of legal experience advising individuals, entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies. Her practice focuses on estate planning, wills, trusts, probate, business law, and the legal needs of small businesses. Before establishing her independent practice, Virginia practiced with prominent law firms in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Perkins Coie LLP, and Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP, now part of DLA Piper. She also served as Senior Counsel – Corporate at the California Independent System Operator.
Virginia began her professional journey with an unusually accelerated academic path. After skipping high school and proceeding directly to college, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with Honors from the University of California, Davis. She subsequently earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she served as Executive Editor of the Ecology Law Quarterly. Her early legal career focused on transactional law, including corporate securities and technology licensing, during the Silicon Valley and San Francisco technology boom. Her broad experience has allowed her to counsel clients across industries and business stages, from emerging entrepreneurs and startups to Fortune 100 companies. She later transitioned to her own practice, allowing her greater control over her schedule, client relationships, and the way she serves those clients.
Virginia is passionate about helping clients safeguard their businesses and estates while planning for future generations. She considers herself a lifelong learner and places significant value on strong client relationships and trusted-advisor partnerships. Her commitment to community extends through board service with United Way of Nevada County and Community Legal in Nevada City, as well as mentoring young women interested in pursuing careers in law. She is also involved with the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce and a women's business networking group. Outside of her professional work, Virginia enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and appreciating the outdoors and communities around her.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Virginia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a lifelong learner and remaining open to gaining experience across different areas of law and business. My career has allowed me to work with entrepreneurs, startups, Fortune 100 companies, and businesses at different stages of development, which has given me broad perspective and experience.
I also believe that building meaningful relationships with clients and understanding their individual goals has been an important part of my success. I value being a trusted advisor and helping clients protect their businesses, estates, and plans for future generations.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would encourage young women entering the legal profession to remain curious and embrace opportunities to learn. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and my own path demonstrates the value of developing knowledge across different areas rather than limiting yourself to one narrow specialty.
I would also encourage the next generation to build meaningful professional relationships and seek experiences that broaden their understanding of clients and businesses. I believe that exposure to different industries, business stages, and areas of law can help young professionals develop into more capable and trusted advisors.
Mentorship is also important to me. I believe in supporting young women who are interested in pursuing careers in law and helping them navigate the profession with greater confidence and perspective.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value relationships, lifelong learning, and being a trusted advisor to the people I serve. In my professional life, I believe it is important to understand my clients' individual circumstances and goals so that I can help them protect what they have built and plan for future generations.
I also value family, community, and having the flexibility to be present for the people and experiences that matter. My decision to establish my own practice was influenced in part by my desire for greater control over my schedule and the clients I serve. Outside of work, I value reading, spending time outdoors, and enjoying my community and family.
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