Ellis Rubin became an attorney in the State of Florida in 1951. Initially, he was appointed as an Assistant State Attorney General by the Governor of the State of Florida.
By 1953, Rubin settled into private practice with well known Miami civil attorney Abe Aronovitz, however, his passion was for criminal law and therefore, in 1954, set up his own practice, Ellis Rubin Law Offices, in Miami.
The firm thrived for many years and Rubin became known for many high profile cases in criminal, civil negligence and civil rights rights. Rubin also became involved in various causes on a pro bono basis including fights to lift TV blackouts of sold-out sporting events, boycotts of oil companies for rising gas prices, gay rights, free speech rights for cable television and freedom of choice issues related to education.