ɹˈeɪ bɪɡˈæn hɜːɹ ˌɪndᵻpˈɛndənt pɹˈæktɪs ʌv kəmˈɜːʃəl lˈɔː ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː, ˈædvɚtˌaɪzɪŋ ɪn nˈuːzpeɪpɚz sˈʌtʃ ɐz ðə nˈuː nˈæʃənəl ˈiəɹə ænd sˈɪɾɪzən, ˈoʊnd baɪ fɹˈɛdɚɹˌɪk dˈʌɡləs.
Ray began her independent practice of commercial law in 1872, advertising in newspapers such as the New National Era and Citizen, owned by Frederick Douglass.