Our Team
Silvia McLain
Executive Director & Staff Attorney
407-834-1660 ext. 114
Silvia McLain joined SCBALAS in 1985. She is an attorney and our executive director. She earned a juris doctor from Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor of Business Administration at Florida International University. She is a member of the Florida Bar. Ms. McLain is the recipient of the Thomas Whigham award, the highest honor bestowed by the Seminole County Bar Association and received the Businessperson of the Month award from the City of Longwood. She is fluent in Spanish. Ms. McLain is also an Adjunct Professor at Seminole State College. She is exceptionally proud of working with our highly dedicated and talented staff, amazing pro bono attorneys and volunteer interns, prominent board members and exemplary donors to our nonprofit organization. She strives to ensure vulnerable residents of Seminole County gain access to the justice system to resolve their urgent legal needs. Silvia enjoys spending time with her family and her 2 rescue dogs.
Sue Selsky
Staff Attorney
407-834-1660 ext. 101
Attorney Sue Selsky is a “Northerner” by birth, but considers herself a Floridian, having lived in Central Florida for over 25 years. She attended Barry University School of Law in Orlando, and graduated with honors from that Law School in 2002. She was admitted to the Florida Bar in 2003, and began her legal career at SCBALAS in 2004. She has been working at Legal Aid ever since. She is also licensed to practice law in the State of Connecticut. Her practice areas are concentrated mainly in family law and eviction defense and other housing matters. She is a member of the Florida Bar Family Law Section Domestic Violence committee and also the Children’s issues committee, and the Seminole County Bar Association. In addition, she is a member of the Seminole County Human Trafficking Task Force, and a member of the Mission United group of United Way which assists Veterans. On a personal note, Attorney Selsky has three adult children and one grandchild.
Yvonne Alonso
Staff Attorney
407-834-1660 ext. 113
Yvonne Alonso joined our legal aid team in June of 2007. She currently handles family law and landlord tenant housing matters and applications for public benefits through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. During her tenure at legal aid, Yvonne has served as the Affiliate Outreach Chair for the Seminole County Young Lawyer’s Division, Vice and Co-Chair of the Florida Bar, Family Law Section Domestic Violence Committee and is a past and current member of the Children’s Issue Committee. Yvonne also serves on the Seminole County Domestic Violence Task Force. When not working, Yvonne enjoys spending time with her husband, Brad, and their children.
Matthew Gripp
Staff Attorney
407-834-1660 ext. 111
Matt is a staff attorney who represents vulnerable Seminole County residents in family law, landlord/tenant, and persons with disabilities cases. A first-generation Floridan, Matt grew up in the Ft. Lauderdale area, spent some time studying in Orlando, Miami, and Washington D.C. and now lives in the Oviedo area with his wife and daughter. Matt’s professional experience as a dedicated public servant has ranged from consulting for the federal government at a national non-profit to serving as an assistant general counsel within the Florida state government. While at the St. Thomas University College of Law, Matt interned at the United Nations, was a member of the Intercultural Human Rights Law Review, and volunteered at the school-affiliated Human Rights Institute. Matt is proud to have worked in the public sector at the international, federal, state, and now local level for most of his career and is honored to serve the vulnerable residents of Seminole County.
Joshua Garcia
Staff Attorney
407-834-1660 ext. 115
Josh is a Staff Attorney with a passion for serving the community. Having joined SCBALAS in 2024, Josh graduated in 2015 from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance. He then went on to pursue a legal education, graduating from Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law. He was then admitted into the Florida Bar in 2020. With extensive experience ranging from public service to private business, Josh is grateful for the opportunity to provide such knowledge and experience to the residents of Seminole County. In his free time, Josh enjoys watching Miami Heat basketball and playing with two rescue dogs.
Betsy Castro
Staff Attorney
407-834-1660 ext. 107
Betsy graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Psychology. After graduation, she commissioned into the U.S. Air Force as a nuclear launch control officer. She spent the next four years as a Missileer stationed at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, and Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. After separating from service, and prior to law school, she worked for the Army Corps of Engineers as a realty specialist. Betsy graduated from Seattle University School of Law. Her past internship experience includes working for in-house counsel at the Allen Institute, a nonprofit bioscience research institute; providing legal aid to moderate income individuals with the Moderate Means program; and working as a Summer Law Intern with both the Department of Justice’s Commercial Litigation and Criminal Antitrust divisions.
Betsy is excited to join the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society and immerse herself in community aid and outreach. You can find her visiting her family in South Florida or drinking a cafecito with her fiancé and her Great Dane, Bodhi!
Julian Suero
Pro Bono/Community Relations Coordinator
407-834-1660 ext. 115
Julian is the legal coordinator and paralegal for the intake department. Julian has a passion for environmental law and advocacy, graduating from Auburn University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management. Building upon this strong academic foundation, Julian pursued a Juris Doctor degree at Barry University School of Law. In 2024, he successfully graduated, honing his legal acumen and gaining invaluable insights into environmental law and policy. At the age of 28, Julian stands poised at the intersection of science and law, equipped with the skills and determination to effect positive change in environmental stewardship and conservation efforts. With a commitment to serving both the community and the environment, he provides excellent service to our applicants and clients.
Denice Garza
Florida Registered Paralegal
407-834-1660 ext. 101
Denice Garza was born and raised in Colorado and moved to Florida with her husband when he separated from the Army 1996. She graduated with an Associate degree from the paralegal program at Seminole State College, and she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies at Keiser University. Denice has been with SCBALAS for 15 years, and she works closely with Attorney Sue Selsky on the Veterans Project. Denice believes her greatest accomplishment is her family. She and her husband have been married since 1993, and they have two children and three grandchildren. It is because of the amazing people in her life that she is passionate about helping others and determined to do her part to help make the world a better place. Denice is the paralegal for Sue Selsky.
Charity Steinbach
Florida Registered Paralegal
407-834-1660 ext. 108
Charity joined the team in November 2011 as a receptionist not knowing a lot about the legal field. After working at SCBALAS for two years, she decided to attend college to enhance her knowledge and further her career. She is the first in her family to attend and graduate college. While working full time and attending college part time, Charity gained hands on experience working as a paralegal at SCBALAS. She graduated Seminole State College in May 2016 with an AA degree in legal studies. Charity has 3 children, one of which serves in the US Navy. She is passionate about helping families obtain guardianship of their disabled children. Charity is the paralegal for Silvia McLain.
Christopher Giard
Florida Registered Paralegal
407-834-1660 ext. 111
Christopher began working at Seminole County Legal Aid in the fall of 2020 and is currently paralegal to Attorney Matthew Gripp. Christopher and Attorney Matthew Gripp are devoted to bettering the community they live in by providing assistance to those in need of family law and landlord/tenant assistance. Christopher began his career in the legal field as a legal assistant and through hard work was recently recognized as a Florida Registered Paralegal in 2022. Having assisted families with estate planning during very rough points in their lives, Christopher developed a desire and passion for helping those in need with their legal problems. Having grown up as a Seminole County resident, Christopher is proud to be assisting his community members in any way he can with their family law needs.
Chloe Mills
Paralegal
407-834-1660 ext. 113
Chloe is a paralegal for Yvonne Alonso. From a young age she has a had a passion for philanthropy work & advocating for underserved communities. Chloe is a Lake Brantley High School graduate & received her B.A. in Political Science from Valdosta State University. After college, she was excited to move back to Central Florida & serve her community by working in the legal field. Chloe is an alumni of Chi Omega Fraternity & enjoys volunteering for Seminole County Public Schools in her free time.
Sophia Ulloa
Florida Registered Paralegal
407-834-1660 ext. 107
Sophia, paralegal working alongside Attorney Betsy Castro, has been a part of our team since 2021. As a first-generation immigrant, she brings a unique perspective to her role. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in legal studies. Her ambition to grow professionally is matched only by her pride in serving the community. As a Florida Registered Paralegal, Sophia is committed to advocating for our clients’ interests and ensuring they feel heard and supported.
Tunala Connell
Administration Coordinator/Business Department
407-834-1660 ext. 105
Born and raised in Inner Mongolia, Tunala had a passion for movement & expression and graduated from Inner Mongolia Dance School. In 1994, Connell came to United States and over the past 22 years, she has dedicated her time to non-profit associations, where she has witnessed the power of collective action and community involvement. With a background in Accounting, Nala honed her skills and expertise over the course of 17 years. Being trilingual, Tunala considers numbers her 4th language but has found her true calling is providing service and support for those in need.
Abigail Stewart
Paralegal/Intake Supervisor
407-834-1660 ext. 100
Abigail was born and raised in Central Florida. A graduate of Dr. Phillips High School, she received an AA from Seminole State College before returning to complete an AS in Legal Studies. As the Intake Specialist for Seminole County Legal Aid Society, she is excited to give back to the community that has always done so much for her. Abigail is a paralegal for the intake department.
Audyn Kamalzadeh
Intake Specialist
407-834-1660 ext. 102
Audyn is a conscientious individual who values hard work and community engagement. He has recently joined Seminole County Legal Aid, eager to contribute his skills and learn from experienced colleagues. Contributing his time to volunteer work with Teen Challenge since 2023 and his local church from 2022 to 2023, Audyn is grateful for the opportunity to give back to his community. Graduating high school ahead of schedule in 2024 at the age of 16, Audyn achieved a respectable 3.65 unweighted GPA and a 4.00 weighted GPA, reflecting his commitment to academics. With a Windows certification and experience in the Police Explorers program, Audyn is eager to pursue further education. Planning to undertake an accelerated college course load, Audyn hopes to eventually attend law school, guided by his passion for learning and service to others.
Regan Stanton
Public Relation Specialist
407-834-1660 ext. 114
Regan has always been passionate about community service and supporting those in need. Born and raised in Central Florida, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a focus in Public Relations from Valdosta State University in Georgia. During her time at Valdosta State, she interned with Rotary Club 4220 of Valdosta. Now, as an Intake Specialist, Regan uses her strong communication and public relations skills to effectively connect with clients, understand their needs, and guide them through the legal process. Her ability to communicate clearly and empathetically helps ensure that those seeking assistance feel heard and supported.
Thomas Ryan
Legal Assistant
407-834-1660 ext. 102
Thomas is a highly motivated college student with the goal of attending law school and entering the field of family law. He is currently on track to receive an Associates of Arts degree through Seminole State College of Florida, and is planning to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at the University of Florida. His record as a speech and debate coach and a regional representative and advisor for the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association emphasizes his skills in communication, research, problem solving, and public speaking. Through his position at Seminole County Legal Aid, Thomas is eager to give back to the community he grew up with and is always ready to hone in his skills, and even gain new ones.