“Feet on the Ground and Eyes Towards Heaven”

From a very young age, Ruth Verónica Pereyra dreamed of becoming a lawyer. She wanted to defend people who needed help and fight for a more just society. However, as the years went by, she began to wonder whether this was possible or whether, as many people said, she was being too idealistic. 

Then, while attending the Faculty of Law at the National University of Tucumán in Argentina, she read a motto that deeply impressed her: “Pedes in terra ad sidera visus” which translates as, “Feet on the ground and eyes towards heaven.” She felt that those words reflected the balance she should aspire to as a professional and as a disciple of Jesus Christ. They also reminded her of what Thomas S. Monson, former president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, taught: “It is better to look up!”

Since this experience, Ruth has never again doubted that when lawyers keep their feet on the ground and their eyes towards heaven, the Lord can guide them and turn them into instruments to bless the lives of others. 

Being part of the JRCLS

By becoming part of the JRCLS, Ruth discovered that she was not alone in her way of understanding the profession. Ruth shares:

I found a community of lawyers who believe that it is possible to practice law with integrity, ethics, compassion, and faith. The members of the [JRCLS] have inspired me and have taught me that true professional success does not consist solely in standing out, but in becoming a force for good wherever the Lord has placed us. That is what I love most about JRCLS. It not only invites us to have high ideals, but also helps us live them. It encourages us to serve, to defend those who need a voice, to protect religious freedom, to love our neighbor, and to seek human flourishing through our profession. It reminds us that law can be much more than a career: it can be a form of discipleship and service. 

Ruth is convinced that “every conversation, every client, every written submission, and every decision represents an opportunity to do good,” and knows that even small acts of honesty, justice, kindness, or compassion can bless the lives of others. 

Aspiring to Practice Law and Serve With Integrity 

Ruth is a lawyer highly recognized for her commitment to social causes, as well as for her constant defense of the right to religious freedom, among other rights. Ruth also serves as the first chair of the Argentina Tucumán Chapter, which was formed in November, 2025. 

This year, Ruth received special recognition from the Ministry of Government and Justice for her distinguished career and valuable service to the community. 

However, when reflecting on how she would like to be known, Ruth does not refer to her academic or professional achievements. Instead, she points out that she would like it to be said that she is a fair lawyer who treats every person with dignity and practices law with integrity, seeking to serve others.

If through my work, the Lord can help, comfort, defend, or change the life of even one person, then all the effort will have been worthwhile. That is the kind of lawyer I aspire to be, the legacy I hope to leave, and I believe that JRCLS helps us achieve it. 

I believe the world needs JRCLS because there is a need for people who inspire others to rise, who understand that true leadership is born from service, and who understand that success is also measured by the mark of hope, justice, and Christian love that we leave in the lives of others.