About
Ruth Sheehan began fighting for the little guy even before she became a lawyer. For more than 20 years, Ruth was a reporter and metro columnist for The News & Observer in Raleigh, providing a voice to the voiceless through her writing. In 2010, Ruth went back to law school at UNC-Chapel Hill and now uses her advocacy skills on behalf of her clients at the Rhine Law Firm.
Ruth has tried hundreds of cases, both bench trials and to juries. She has experience handling all sorts of negligence cases, from automobile and bicycle crashes to dog bites and premises liability cases. She has represented clients in state courts all the way to the NC Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, as well as in federal court. Ruth has helped folks who have had their land condemned for public roads and other projects, and is relentless in advocating for clients in sexual harassment cases. Since joining Rhine Law Firm, she has been a key player in class actions involving faulty elevators and data breaches, as well as assisting military families forced to live in substandard housing on base.
Education
- Carolina School of Law, UNC-Chapel Hill, J.D.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, BA in History and Journalism, with honors
- University of Warwick, Coventry, England (Junior year abroad)
- Duke University DeWitt Wallace Center for Media and Democracy
Professional Associations
- North Carolina Advocates for Justice, member 2015 to present; Board of Governors, 2017 to 2021
- Wake County Bar Association, Communications 2020 to 2022
Community
- North Carolina Health News, non-profit health news organization, board member 2016 to present
- Lawyers Assistance Program volunteer
- Member Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
- Helen Wright Women’s Shelter (Urban Ministries) for more than 24 years
