Ruth Shamir Popkin
Career
University Studies
Studies in Israel - Faculty of Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
After the conclusion of my military service, I enrolled at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at the same time worked as a clerk residing in a rented room. I gave private lessons, teaching English, arithmetic, and reading and writing to children to supplement my income.
It was very difficult for me to see boys and girls I grew up with attending university with the full support of their parents while I had to struggle to earn my degree while helping to support my mother and myself.
Later, I won a scholarship to study for one year at the University of Southern Illinois – Carbondale, a small town in Illinois. It was a relief to be able to just think about studies and less about earning a livelihood for a year.
The American scoring system was new to me and after tremendous effort and with the credits I already earned in Israel, I received a bachelor’s degree (BA). I also received a scholarship from the Ford Foundation to study in Columbia, New York. Unfortunately, I had to return the scholarship because I could not both work and study at the same time in New York without additional financial help. I decided to go as far as I could and drove an old 1949 Chevy to Southern California. I started working in a synagogue as a Hebrew teacher and also studied at the local University of Jewish Studies to get a teaching certificate for Hebrew schools.
Later, I decided to go back to school and study law. While I was taking the California Bar exam, I happened to be sitting next to a student from another university. I failed the first bar exam but later passed the second time. Little did I know then that we would meet again three years later and get married soon after in 1966. We lived together for 44 years.
Studies in the United States
Southern Illinois University BA Government June 1958
Teaching Certificate Jewish Education Sept. 1959
Southwestern Law School Class of 1963
Claremont Graduate University MA Cultural Studies 2007
Claremont Graduate University PhD Cultural Studies 2010
Teaching at NANJING UNIVERSITY China
Work in the Israel
1965 Legal Adviser - Tel Aviv Stock Exchange
5/1/1974 Completion of an internship at a law firm
I returned to Israel and worked at the stock exchange and supported my mother who rented rooms in our apartment to augment her income. Those were very difficult economic times.
I eventually returned to Los Angeles and one evening I went to a restaurant called Theodore’s and there in the distance I saw the student who sat next to me at the California Bar exam three years earlier.
This was the beginning of a long and interesting life with my husband, Richard C. Popkin. It felt wonderful to be with someone who showed me that I could achieve anything if I set my mind to do it. Richard asked me what I would like to do. I said, “to practice law”. “Okay”, he answered, “go do it!”.
Work in the US
While I was studying law, I worked as a teacher. My goal was to be financially independent as a lawyer and support my mother in Israel. After graduation, I was trying to decide which field of law to practice so that I will not have to compete with many lawyers who were American. There were a few lawyers practicing immigration law – actually only five in Los Angeles.
It was a different California, immigration law was very different in those days and many Israelis consulted with me about their immigration status. Soon, my husband, Richard and I established a small office which became quite successful. Richard practiced civil law. Years later, my childhood friend, Jack Golan became a partner in our firm and our practice continued to grow.
Richard and I started traveling the world and our clientele grew. We set up an office in Manila, Philippines, and later in Hong Kong.
We won significant trials and helped correct the injustice done to Filipino soldiers in World War II that deprived them of the right to obtain U.S. citizenship after serving with the U.S military during the Mac Arthur period. Before Hong Kong was returned to China, we helped many Chinese immigrate from Hong Kong to the United States.
After Mao Tse Tung’s death, we traveled to the People’s Republic of China for the first time. It was a great experience and I published in Yedioth Ahronoth the book “In China It is Different” which was a great success.
Establishment of a law firm Popkin Shamir Golan
Ruth's Office Website
Best Friend and Partner Jacob Golan
