Ruth Evelyn Schneider

Ruth draws from extensive professional experience and four degrees of higher education in her practice of law. She grew up on a family farm in New Athens, Illinois, graduated from New Athens High School, and attained her Bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. Soon after, she began an education career as a teacher, principal, and superintendent that included earning Master and Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees from Southern Illinois University.

Building on her experience as a public educator, Ruth pursued her passion of fighting for area residents and businesses as an attorney. During her Juris Doctorate (JD) education at Southern Illinois University, Ruth worked with the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Office and the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation helping domestic violence victims and families in need. Those experiences inspired her to co-found RISE Law Institute, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to helping victims of domestic violence and cyber-stalking. She serves as RISE’s Executive Director.

As the principal attorney at RCJ Law, LLC, Ruth prides herself on fighting hard and standing firm on behalf of her clients. At all times, she keeps her clients’ interests paramount. She gives a personal touch to each case and provides no-nonsense legal representation for her clients.

Since law school, the breadth and depth of Ruth’s work has grown into the tort and civil litigation practice that it is today through her commitment to quality, and her involvement in the legal community. Ruth’s professional activities include active membership in the American Bar Association (ABA), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Missouri State Bar Association (MSBA), St. Clair County Bar Association, and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL). She is also a member of the prestigious ISBA Privacy Law and Information Security Council.

Ruth holds licenses to the Illinois Bar, Missouri Bar, Eastern District of Missouri (Federal Court), and Southern District of Illinois (Federal Court).

Community engagement is important to both RCJ Law and to Ruth. Her community activities include membership in the Webster Groves, Shrewsbury, Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce and service as adjunct professor at Missouri Baptist University.