About Amy
Amy Ruiz built a career that moves between courtrooms and municipal chambers. She earned a B.A. in Marketing and International Economics from the University of Florida in 2000, then completed her J.D. at Florida State University College of Law in 2004.
Her legal career began in public service. She joined the office of Julie Holt, Public Defender for the 13th Judicial Circuit, in 2004. In that role she handled defense work at the trial level and learned to manage heavy caseloads under tight deadlines. Two years later she joined the office of Mark Ober, State Lawyer for the 13th Judicial Circuit, as an assistant state lawyer. That move put her on the other side of criminal matters and broadened her litigation experience.
Ruiz shifted into private practice and firm work after her time in government. She served as an associate at Masten, Peterson & Denbo in 2011, where she handled civil matters and courtroom appearances. The next year she founded Amy Ruiz Law, PL and took on the role of managing member. She led the small firm through local litigation, administrative matters, and client representation across a range of issues.
Public appointments and civic roles have been part of Ruiz’s professional path. In 2017 she became a special magistrate for the City of Tampa. That position has involved hearings and decisions on municipal code and local regulatory matters. Her work in municipal settings complements the trial and administrative experience she accumulated earlier in her career.
Ruiz is admitted to practice in Florida and is authorized to appear before the Federal Circuit. She keeps active in local bar circles. She holds membership in the Hillsborough County Bar Association and the Hillsborough County Association for Women Lawyers. She also serves on the board of the Hispanic Bar Association, where she participates in programming and outreach aimed at the local legal community.
Colleagues describe Ruiz as someone who moves quickly between the demands of trial calendars and the procedural pace of administrative hearings. She has handled criminal defense, state-side prosecution assignments, civil litigation, and municipal proceedings at different points in her career. She practices from Amy Ruiz Law, PL and handles trial work, administrative hearings, and municipal matters.
