Ruth has practised law in Canada and New Zealand. She has taught at the University of Waikato since 1988. She has published reports and articles on domestic violence and the criminal justice system, judicial discourses on domestic violence, the family court system, child witnesses of spousal violence, and violence intervention models. Most recently, she has been involved in analysing custody and access decisions which arise within the context of domestic violence. Ruth is also researching and writing in the area of the legal recognition of same sex relationships.