The

Undeniable

Ruth

®

…and the Ruth shall set you free!

  • Day 43/90 – One Lawyer Helping Another

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    Ruth Carter

    Day 43 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? I got to help a fellow lawyer who is thinking about going solo.

    Image courtesy of Scramble
    Image courtesy of Scramble

    I get a handful of calls and emails every year from lawyers who are thinking about opening their own practice. They often want to know what it takes to get started, how to set rates, and what marketing tactics work for getting clients. I was petrified when I made the decision to open my own firm right out of law school and I was so grateful to everyone who will help me along the way. Talking with lawyers who are thinking about going solo gives me the chance to pay it forward.

    This summer I’ve had the unique experience of being able to meet with a few East Coast lawyers who are considering transplanting to Phoenix and opening up shop as solos for the first time. Today I had one of those experiences; I had breakfast with Bryan and his wife. He is considering giving up big firm life for the freedom of a solo practice, while moving across the country. We met at Scramble where we had an awesome conversation about practicing law in Arizona, working with the startup community, how long it takes to turn a profit, and living in Phoenix in general. Bryan seemed impressed by everything I’ve accomplished in the three years I’ve been practicing law, which I found ironic given that he has been practicing law more than ten years longer than me.

    I think it’s funny when people from major cities ask me if I feel safe in Phoenix. There may be certain neighborhoods I won’t walk around in after dark by myself, however I’ve never felt truly unsafe in Phoenix. People who are new to the valley also ask me about how often I see scorpions. For the record, I have seen one scorpion since I’m moved here eleven years ago, and it was on Camelback Mountain.

    In other awesome news: Rosie appears to be on the mend. We had a follow-up visit to the vet today. It looks like my baby girl has a UTI. I was so relieved when she finally started eating again tonight.

    In case you missed it: Day 42 of the 90 Days of Awesome – Everyone should know Aaron Swartz’s story and his contributions to the internet.

  • Day 42/90 – Learning about Aaron Swartz

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    Ruth Carter

    Day 42 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? I got to learn more about Aaron Swartz, his life, his work, and his legal battle.

    Boston Wiki Meetup by Sage Ross
    Boston Wiki Meetup by Sage Ross from Flickr (Creative Commons License)

    As a social media attorney, I’m aware of Aaron Swartz’s impact on the online community, but I didn’t know much about who he was as a person or the depth or breadth of his impact on the internet until I saw The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz today.

    Aaron was an incredible person – a true genius. I think a lot of people don’t realize how amazing he was. He was one of the founders of Reddit. He was a key figure in the fight against SOPA. He believed that information is power, and that access to information should not be restricted. Aaron called out Congress for trying to pass laws that would restrict access to information and who could have a voice on the internet, when one of the best things about the internet is anyone can create a platform to share their views.

    Aaron was willing to make himself a target in order to make a point and to show where there are problems. I have so much respect for that type of bravery. He was arrested and charged with violating the outdated Computer Fraud and Abuse Act when he hacked the system at MIT to download academic articles. I suspect when he decided to do this, he never expected it to result in the threat of jail or $1 million in fines. Aaron killed himself prior to this case’s conclusion and subsequently, the U.S. Legislature has proposed a revision of this law called Aaron’s Law.

    If you haven’t seen this film, I recommend you make it a priority to see this. Aaron’s story brings to light serious issues related to our access to information. Even though I’m an advocate for copyright rights, I’m also an advocate for access to information and education. Knowledge should not be limited to the rich.

    In other awesome news, Rosie is on the mend. Her ear drops are making her much more comfortable and she’s starting to eat more, though she’s more interested in my food than hers. Hopefully we’ll have her lab test results tomorrow and we’ll know what to do to make her better.

    In case you missed it: Day 41 of the 90 Days of Awesome – Rosie goes to the Vet.

  • Day 39/90 – I Love My Clients

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    Ruth Carter

    Day 39 of the 90 Days of Awesome is in the bank! What made today awesome? I feel satisfied with my work.

    I Hustled My Face Off Today (H/T to Gary Vaynerchuk for the slogan)
    I Hustled My Face Off Today (H/T to Gary Vaynerchuk for the slogan)

    Today was one of those days where I felt like I was doing client work almost nonstop. I’m working on a few custom contracts and I had to consultations today. During one of my consultations, I felt like I was going on mile a minute talking about intellectual property and social media legal issues. I paused and asked my client if you understood what I was saying, and he said, “Yes, this is exactly what we need.” I loved that. I love when I know what I do is making a difference in my clients’ lives.

    As an existentialist, it is imperative that what I do creates significant tangible differences on others or my surroundings, because if it doesn’t, then why am I here? (Yes, these are real issues and thoughts that I grapple with on a regular basis.)

    And can I say that my clients are freakin’ awesome? I love the how smart, creative, and diligent they are. The majority of them are in absolute joy to work for.

    In case you missed it: Day 38 of the 90 Days of Awesome – So Happy for my Friend who Got some Incredible News!