Barbara A. Ruga

Member
Phone: 616-608-1105
Fax: 616-608-1199
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Areas of Practice
Education & Municipal
Labor & Employment Law

Bar Admissions
Admitted to practice in State of Michigan

Education
J.D., cum laude, University of Michigan Law School, 1977
B.S., cum laude, The University of Michigan, 1973

Memberships
Grand Rapids Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section (past chair), Nominating Committee (member, 2005), Continuing Legal Education Committee (past chair), Judicial Evaluation Committee (member, 2002)
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, past member of the Board of Directors
State Bar Character and Fitness Committee, member
State Bar Association Law Day Committee, member
Grand Rapids Bar Associations Law Day Committee, member
Kentwood Zoning Board of Appeals, Vice Chair
Kentwood Economic Development Task Force, past member
University Club, past member and Vice President
National Association of Career Women, charter member, board member, and program chair
View 100, past president
Grand Rapids Symphony Board, past member
Unity Church of Peace, past board member

Barbara A. Ruga is a member in the firm’s Grand Rapids office where she practices in the School and Municipal and Labor & Employment Law practice groups. Barb has significant experience with a wide range of employment and school law matters where she primarily represents public school districts. In addition to her legal expertise, Barb is a frequent speaker in public school districts where she addresses employment and school law issues for the Michigan Negotiators Association as well as for the Michigan Institute of Educational Management, the Lorman Institute, and the Michigan Association of School Personnel Administrators.

Barb is heavily involved in the legal community having served and chaired on several committees and boards, including the Grand Rapids Bar Association where she was a past chair of the Young Lawyers Section, a member of the Nominating Committee (2005), a past chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, and a member of the Judicial Evaluation Committee (2002). In addition to her activities in the Grand Rapids Bar Association, Barb was a past member of the Board of Directors for the Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, a member of the State Bar Character and Fitness Committee, and a member of the State and Grand Rapids Bar Associations Law Day Committee. 

Barb is also active in the Grand Rapids community where she has been the Vice Chair for the Kentwood Zoning Board of Appeal as well as a past member for the Kentwood Economic Development Task Force. She was a Member and Vice President of the University Club, and Charter member, board member, and program chair of the National Association of Career Women. Barb is a past president of View 100, a past member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Board, and a past board member of the Unity Church of Peace.

Barb has authored, published, and edited several books and articles.