Ruth has taught and researched law at the University of Manchester since 2014, having obtained her PhD in 2009. Her research has been focused on the law as it affects families and children, particularly where the families have international links. Her work has considered the impact of domestic abuse on international families, public law child protection and the role of children’s rights. She has worked on the development of the law relating to victims of crime and on the role of the Victims’ and Witnesses Commissioner in the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. She was appointed Parliamentary Thematic Research Lead for Crime and Justice in 2024 working with the Home Affairs, Human Rights, Equalities and Justice Hub, and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).