Russ graduated with highest honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law, where he received the CALI Award for Excellence in Legal Writing, an honor given to the top student in the class. Prior to attending law school, Russ worked for a large insurance company, where he gained valuable experience in problem solving while working with people dealing with some of the most difficult times of their lives. There, he gained insight into how overwhelmed people can feel when dealing with unexpected issues and it was here that he developed a true passion for helping people.