Hon. Kevin M. Dillon '76

Segment Synopsis: Kevin Dillon is a 1976 graduate of UB Law School and is pleased to participate in the project. He went to Villanova U for college, was a fraternity president for 72-73 (he tried to keep this from his parents), went to the NY Reserve National Guard for 6 years, 6 months of active service, then went to UB Law. He sat on the floor because there were no desks installed yet except for the Red Room. His wife has the patience of the saint and has three daughters: Emily, graduate of UB and working in Erie County, Bridget, who's a CPA, and Anne, who teaches in Chicago, and he's proud of all of them. His father was presiding judge of the appellate division and died too early, his mother bore eight children who took care of them while his father was running for office. He describes his siblings. Kevin decided to go to law school "in the second grade." His father took him to work one day (which pleased his mom) and Dillon describes how watching his father in court impressed him and made him want to be a trial lawyer. He chose to go to UB because of money. He was accepted at Cornell, but his dad told him to go to UB because it was much cheaper. He segues into a story about college ratings, and that the Constitutional law he teaches is the same as it would be anywhere, except that his students don't have to buy his books. Thus, he thinks UB gets an "unfair rap."

Keywords: Amherst Campus; Career / Military Service; Children / Grandchildren; Choosing UB Law School; Family; Father; Role Models; Spouse; Teaching Law; Undergraduate Education; Value of Education

Subjects: CAREER: GENDER; EDUCATION; FAMILY HISTORY; PERSONAL ISSUES; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Kevin had a lot of friends in high school and college, but since he was drafted, he started college in 73 rather than 72, which made him appreciate Canisius HS. He didn't like it at first until he started UB, saw several of his friends, and realized what a great education he'd received. His most poignant memories of law school were sitting on the floor taking notes. There were no trees planted and the campus was very "under construction," he says it was difficult to describe. The holiday break was short as well, and they were behind on exams due to construction problems. He was also scared because "none of this made any sense" no matter who the professors were. Wade Newhouse's Con Law class was great. Paul Birzon is his all-time hero and he loved his classes. George Zimmerman, who taught Business Law, Dillon tells a story about how the Saturday classes conflicted with his National Guard duties so he had to take classes in his Army fatigues. He also liked Kenny Joyce's class. His least favorite class was Uniform Commercial Code, and he mentions he never really understood it.

The interviewer asks if he had any mentors in law school. He didn't have a lot of time in Law School due to working as a night watchman, working for Pepsi-Cola, etc. and didn't have much time to socialize. He describes how being a fraternity president and ex-military affected his life and focus.

Keywords: Amherst Campus; Canisius High School; Classes; Faculty / Professors; Law Professor; Mentors; Value of Education

Subjects: CAREER: MILITARY; EDUCATION; UB LAW AS STUDENT; UB LAW FACULTY

Segment Synopsis: Kevin jokes he can't hold a job for more than 10 years, but says he's had a great career. He was a trial attorney, defended the alleged ".22 killer," after doing defense work he got appointed district attorney, and describes his other accomplishments. He eventually got involved in politics, then went onto the supreme court bench. He also started teaching as a adjunct at UB--criminal law, and was a trustee. He managed to overcome some health problems six months ago, and has enjoyed every bit of it--not a part he didn't like. Kevin thinks there's not much connection between grades in law school and success as a lawyer, because they gauge only ability, not necessarily what the student will do with it.

Defender's association, president of state DA association, guys at coffee stand in Elliott Square, and so on. Rich DiGiacomo, Mike Hudson, Larry Cataldi, Pat Brown, Gabe Furber and others. He's deeply appreciative of everything he has and his relationship with all of them. He then describes some of what he considers his personal greatest achievements, a case he took in Boston, NY defending a migrant worker who failed to catch his bus back being charged with disorderly conduct who had nowhere to go and gave him a room at the YMCA, food and money. He got a note from Alabama from the man six months later.

Keywords: Academic vs. Career Success; Accomplishments; Elections / Political History; Employment / Jobs / Wages; NYS Supreme Court; Significant Cases; Teaching Law; Trial Practice

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; LAW; PERSONAL ISSUES; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; TEACHING; UB LAW FACULTY

Segment Synopsis: Dillon says that his cases became more difficult as his career progressed, and that the ethics of defending genuinely guilty people is difficult. The economy was also better when he was doing private practice, when Bethlehem Steel was still around. The judiciary is a very easy job and he is blessed with a great law court and assistants, and the pressure is on the practitioners, not him.

He thinks professional opportunities have changed. He came from a blue collar neighborhood in Lackawanna and he knew steel and iron workers. The interview cuts, and then he notes that almost none of the thousands of people in Lackawanna from when he was growing up are there today. The loss of those workers meant there were fewer people who needed lawyers. The average practitioner just can't get clients anymore, and there are more part-time lawyers these days. Kevin then describes his working conditions: When he got out of law school and worked in the DA's office (afterwards starting his own law firm), he describes being able to live and work pretty easily. He thus looks at lawyers today claiming they need more time with "a jaundiced eye."

The interview cuts a couple more times and the interviewers talk and joke among themselves. Kevin describes how he lived in the early days of practice and some of the cases he worked on, hired by mother of Joseph Christopher, the .22 caliber killer. He notes that case changed his practice with Mark Mahoney forever and generated a lot of future business. He describes how some of his colleague's careers have progressed over the years, and notes there are many people who not only worked with him but who were more talented than he was. He's proud of them and thinks they all did a good job for the people of Erie County, and notes being a DA is tough. It was his most difficult job--the trouble with being a DA is that you know too much and can't reveal much information publicly. It was tough, but he never lost his integrity or cut corners, whether he won or lost cases.

Dealing with the newspapers was tough--some days they were for him, others against, but he didn't cater to them much. Kevin notes Eddie Cosgrove rarely talked to the press. He tells another story about a friend who was annoyed by some reporters. He notes some journalists who were good to him: Jimmy Griffin, who never said no to him, and Arthur Eve, who was Griffin's polar opposite but supported Kevin all the time.

Segment Synopsis: If he could do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing, and says he's been lucky--everything he's tried has turned out well. We wouldn't go back to private practice (too old), but being a DA allowed him to see things no one else ever did. He's surprised he had all these great experiences because he was just a good law student, not a great one. Everything he's tried he's enjoyed, and while he's had some bad days, he hasn't had a bad career.

The interviewer asks how being a judge has affected Kevin's life overall. He says thanks to his training as a judge, he has a more objective view of life. He says many lawyers can now see both sides of an issue and it shows in their family and everyday life. But being compelled to see both sides also exposes one to the tragedy life. He points out we have things much better than African countries or even Louisiana, which still hasn't been rebuilt.

Kevin advises young lawyers that law school is very tough today, and he meets a young person every once every two weeks and tells them it's hard to get a job because of the economy. Also, your first job won't be pleasant, well-paid, or guaranteed employment, but still, take the job, because it'll be easier to get the job you do like if you're in the game.

If he could change one thing about UB Law School, he'd have them be more aggressive about announcing who they are and ignore the "nonsense" about ratings. The subject material of the Constitution is the same no matter where you go--he jokes that even if he doesn't understand it, he's a 'hard head' who's been around for 18 years. He also jokes he's seen enough of the interviewer, and the interview ends.

Keywords: Advice; Career / Professional Experience; Graduate / Professional Training; Reputation; UB Law School general

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS