Ruth Mi-Kyung Chung

I was referred to Ruth Chung by another lawyer, who described her as a ‘formidable opponent’. I was embroiled in a case over custody and visitation which, as a parent was very emotionally taxing. I felt greatly relieved as soon as I began to work with Ruth, and I knew I had found the right ally to ...guide me through this process and fight my corner. I was under such financial strain at the time that I had even considered trying to represent myself, but I was so glad that I did the right thing by working with Ruth. She was instrumental in guiding the process towards an early settlement without having to go to trial, and thus avoiding lengthy and costly proceedings. I would highly recommend Ruth Chung to any parent who is experiencing similar issues.

When I went to seek legal representation for my case I did not know I was going to meet a true defender. When Ruth opened her own firm, I kindly went with her because I trusted Ruth wholeheartedly. Ruth did not just represent me for a fee but she saw the human within me and represented my best intere...st, even when my judgment was clouded by pain and anger. I never had to say anything in court because she truly fought my battles and made sure I came out on top. I knew the work she put into my case was about me and my future as opposed to her ego as an attorney and wanted to prove what she could do for self. Ruth allowed me to show all of my emotions and never judged me for it but took all of those emotions and brought it to court to ensure I felt safe that all would be well. I trusted the services because I trusted Ruth and her legal advice. I was more than pleased with my outcome and even more with the services. I thank God, I had Ruth on my team for my entire process.

I was the most emotionally fragile I've ever been when I called Ruth. Uncertain about everything, and I'm sure I sounded uncertain even about leaving my marriage. Ruth was a rock. She hit that magic balance of confident, reassuring, compassionate + sensitive, tough, smart, and a powerhouse. Within th...e first few minutes of the consultation, I felt: Yes, this is a person I want to advocate for me. Two years later my case is filed, and I got everything I asked for: equal share of assets without having to go to court, and patience from my lawyer on my slow time table. Ruth was always quick to respond to my messages and never hurried me. She emphasized cooperation and fairness. When I was too distraught to understand particular minutiae of the settlement, I knew I could trust her to do right by me. She was a column of strength and sanity I desperately needed after being so disillusioned in my marriage that I wasn't sure what fair was anymore. In short, I felt safe. And on top of it, Ruth's rates were very reasonable. At a time when I was super insecure about money and that I've never paid for a lawyer before, it became clear to me fast that hiring her was paying for itself. On a (more) personal note, I value that Ruth is POC and a native NYer (I think). She was sensitive and understanding of my own cultural dynamics, as an immigrant who grew up in NYC. I highly recommend Ruth to anyone beginning the process, or thinking about it—and to anyone who's feeling distressed that a fair divorce is impossible. It's possible, and Ruth is about to make your life a lot easier and kinder. I'm very grateful.

I had two consultations with Ruth. During the first one, I was immediately at ease because she cut through my misunderstandings about my case, and my lack of knowledge about the law, and in a calm and clear manner pointed out the two or three specific challenges I was facing in family court, taki...ng the time to educate me on both the process and the law specific to my case. Then she laid out for me the two or three potential scenarios where my case might lead into, offering sound advice on which path to follow. I was particularly pleased to hear her recommend a course of action that would mean me not hiring her to represent me. I felt I was working with someone not interested in exploiting my vulnerabilities to her advantage but instead clearly made me see how the law and the case shaped my potential courses of action. By the second consultation, my case had become more difficult as I now had an order of protection protecting my child and a pending custody petition. And I was heading to my first hearing representing myself and my child in family court. I had ten points in my list of complaints about my spouse to present to the court, and Ruth very efficiently showed me how focusing on just two would be more effective to drive my point across. In a matter of minutes, she gave me clear advice on how to come up with a small set of bullet points to use in court, how to conduct myself in court, which was really key, what to expect from opposing counsel, and what to ask for. I ended up getting three important asks from the judge. Ruth prepared me really well. From my first intake phone call, Ruth was compassionate, transparent, upfront and honest, with a no-nonsense style that built immediate trust. She was knowledgeable and patient, and went out of her way to educate me and coach me on the minutiae of my specific case. I highly recommend Ruth without any reservation. You will be in good hands.

Working with Ruth was a breeze to bring closure to my 16+ years of marriage. She managed my expectations by being upfront with her recommendations from the very beginning, clear about potential challenges that could come up and ways to approach those situations. She was very effective in negotiatin...g the terms of my divorce and communicated the updates in a timely manner. Her fees were also reasonable and she worked so efficiently, which gave me confidence that I wasn't being taken advantage of. Divorce is a very emotional life event. I had consulted with other lawyers before receiving the recommendation to see Ruth and although I knew I had to overcome my feelings to make the process go smoothly, other lawyers I consulted with made me feel that the divorce was my fault and that it was because of my decisions that I had to pay the consequences. Ruth made me feel that I had an advocate in her, answered my questions succinctly without making me feel like either the aggressor or the victim. I would highly recommend Ruth if you're looking for a no-nonsense lawyer and an excellent advocate for your case.