Hon. Edmund F. Maxwell '49

Segment Synopsis: Irish descent; born in Lackawanna, grew up in South Buffalo; went to parochial schools, Canisius High School and Canisius College; Courses at Canisius Liberal Arts, took Greek, Latin, Geometry best courses. Work as usher at Shea's Great Lakes. Goes to Canisus College. Had three years in College, went into service (WWII); brother has interest in law school, encourages his interest. GI Bill offers 4 years of school. Could do law school in four. Jesuit background decides on Fordham, travels to NYC; is told their interest is in local people. Father was a dentist. Four children go to college--3 boys 1 girl.

Keywords: Buffalo History; Choice of Law; Choosing UB Law School; Ethnicity / Diversity; Graduate / Professional Training; Primary / Secondary School; Specialized Training; Undergraduate Education; World War II

Subjects: EDUCATION; FAMILY HISTORY

Segment Synopsis: No regrets of attending UB; advantage of attending UB--networks established, forming a cohort; Law School great education even if not practicing law. Exposure to lawyers? guy down the street took the streetcar to the office Mr. Mahaney, didn't seem to be making a great deal of money. Only exposure to lawyers. Formal application process? Applied with Bob Hiller; filled out application. No LSAT; applied spring '46, graduated 1949. 80% veterans. 80% veterans; 3 women grads in '49; 1 African American--Jimmy Robinson. Private school. Halpern dean then Jaffe. Large class--150 students in class, classes held in Townsend Hall, (was the night school), 1st year. Most students local, some from Rochester, Syracuse. Cornell more exclusive, UB more diverse--willing to take a chance. Know many from Canisius and those in service. Many vets, a few non-vets. Phil Magner was a vet.

Keywords: Administration; Application process; Choosing UB Law School; Class Composition; Classes; Deans; Faculty; Faculty / Professors; Halpern, Philip; Intellectual Tradition; Law Students; Magner, Philip; Neighborhood; Robinson, Jim; Role Models; Satisfaction; Student Culture; Townsend Hall

Subjects: UB LAW FACULTY

Segment Synopsis: Favorite courses? Liked labor law with Lenhoff; Contracts with Bill Laidlaw who wore the same tie everyday. Constitutional law with Hyman, fascinating because no realization of 14th amendment that the states would be bound by it. Hyman great teacher--long questions--forgot first part of question. Dislikes? Can' t think of any; a few elective at that time--trial techniques. Moot court? yes, presided over by Judge Desmond who was on court of appeals; Pete Murrett, Desmond's nephew told EM that he would be asked questions by the judge a few minutes into speech so he did not prepare speech, had to improvise. No law journal, started after he was there. Halpern was the Dean, leaves shortly later, Jaffe takes over. Halpern comes back to teach clinical. Jaffe involved in administration, goes to Harvard; Emphasis for students is practical--to get out and get jobs; Less theory and writing. Success in legal practice not necessarily best student in class.

Keywords: Academic vs. Career Success; Areas of Scholarship; Buffalo Law Journal; Caliber of Students; Curriculum; Desmond, Judge; Intellectual Tradition; Jaffe, Louis; Law Courses; Lenhoff, Arthur; Moot Court

Subjects: UB LAW AS STUDENT

Segment Synopsis: Felt ethnic background limits? Not quite the way it is now; Larger law firms hired non-UB law grads--looking for top shelf grads. Black and proud of it"; as a Catholic no barriers. First job with Saperston--largely Jewish firm. Remembers Irish in South Buffalo, mother said "Irish and proud of it"; Black attorney at Prudential building had on briefcase "black and proud of it." 1st legal job at Saperston; Applied to FBI day after taking bar--rejected. Only UB grad at Saperston? Harry Wilkse was there, did collection work; Curtin worked there one summer; Wilkse refers to S. Buffalo needed for worked in collection work; Involved with Manny Duke in trial work; Harry was tough--real collector. Would go on vacation had EM sit at desk, could go through 30-40 files a day. Every called EM for extensions. Harry tells him he can't leave because of vacation, Howard Saperston asks why so long? Practices with brother; Brad Street collection work, work with small builders, lien work w/ Harry Radcliff; Went right though w/ law school, never had any second thoughts. Tried applying for another job and asked for 25/week, come back at 10/week; Saperston gives him 25/wk; finds out Don Day starts at 60/wk out of Cornell. Worked summers at Westinghouse making motors and stamping area; idea of workers comp and work on stamping machines; story of a man that cut thumb off at plant.

Keywords: Anecdote; Employment / Jobs / Wages; Ethnicity / Diversity; Law Firms; Legal Community; Practice; Prudential Building; Salary; Saperston; Satisfaction; Specialized Training

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL

Segment Synopsis: No LSAT, in summer of second year every third one was asked to come in for a test--process of formulating LSAT. One of the ways to develop test, got a decent mark. Any job placement? No. After working with brother since '54 went to US Attorney's office in '61. Curtin gets in and EM's brother suggests trying it for two years. Got job, stayed for 2 yrs. Forms relationship with Henderson; US Commissioner (judicial job) offered by Henderson, part time--could still practice law. Handle arrest warrants, filing of complaints, search warrants, initial appearances, setting bail, prelim hearings; evolves into Magistrate job. Paid $4 per warrant for a max of $10,000/yr. In Detroit during prohibition, rum runners; workers make 10,000, then cycle in next year for another 10,000. Most EM made $2700. In the job 6 yrs. arraignments in the office, arrest warrants in the office and prisoners brought into office in the Prudential building. Unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, federal warrant issued; anecdote of a particular case: man brought in to Buffalo, adjourned for a week, Buffalo police is to hold him for a week. 6 months later gets a call from Jimmy Malloy looking for prisoner--can't find him, set free by mistake; receives postcards from all over signed by the prisoner--Jimmy Malloy was sending them; EM would visit Malloy in Washington saying he was Ronny Sinabaldi(?) Do over or change? No. While Commissioner, increasing caseload issues, Congress changes name to Magistrate, expansion of duties in 1971; Henderson offered--he's held position 31 years; five left on the original group of 80, now 400. Great job w/o Article 3. Happy with job, may not have enjoyed federal court job as much; friendly relationship w/ bar. Professional opportunities? changes? $10-$15/wk was a lot; few lawyers in neighborhoods, suburbs; small time lawyers in practice. Hard to practice individually today.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Advice; Anecdote; Application process; Appointments; Choice of Law; Curtin, John; Employment / Jobs / Wages; Henderson, John; Judiciary; Law School History; Laws; Legal Education; Prudential Building; Salary; Satisfaction; Significant Cases; Specialized Training; US Attorney; US Magistrate

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL

Segment Synopsis: Finding a job harder today for children, 3 attended UB; 1 goes to Appellate div.; Mike to Wood Sprague then Hodgeson; John clerked during school w/ Collin, still w/ today; Pat applied to UB not accepted because of diversity situation; children went to Amherst, Williams, and Middlebury for undergrad degrees. Small school and practice of law impact life? problem was 6.5 day/week job. On call. Liked to attend a later mass. Long hours in the office, no law clerk, no time for family, community activities. Did own writing until 1980. better training, ability to deal with people; encourage kids to attend law school? Children wanted to attend law school. Asked children to take 1 yr. off to decide, work a law-related job.

Keywords: Advice; Children / Grandchildren; Ethnicity / Diversity; Family

Subjects: PERSONAL ISSUES

Segment Synopsis: Believes in service before law school; Average age of law students increasing. Advice starting out? Don't know. Marks more important today then school attended. Cost of top caliber students; Never much for getting business; glad for job he got; Larry Rieger gives much business in development, exclusive with Monroe for Titles; '70's recession. Exposure to UB students? had a student intern for credit. Retired in '92, goes to office everyday. Caliber of UB students is great; doesn't know where attended school w/o asking. On Board of Directors at UB for Alumni Assoc. 3 years. No time for more service. Move from Downtown. Nicer Downtown closer to courts; Closer relationship between faculty and Bar. Caliber of school has gone up. Change anything? Searches for Schlegel article, critical legal studies is passe now. Howard Meyers article on distance learning. anecdote: Old days people felt girls went to law school to find a husband. Daughter married fellow sitting next to her in school. Have heard good things about new Dean; Interviewers comments of Dean Olsen and director of enrollment. Nils Olsen teaching there before Dean, Habeas Corpus acts; agrees to take some on, Legal Aid not sufficiently staffed. Filings in Federal Court, case that gives opening, Nils and he figures out what to do. Gene Pickett Pres of Bar involved; requires papers to be filed early, daughter working for Nils; nothing to be done in Federal court.

Keywords: Administration; Advice; Alumni Association; American Bar Association; Areas of Scholarship; Caliber of Students; Curriculum; Deans; Faculty; Faculty / Professors; Gender; Intellectual Tradition; Law Faculty; Law Students; Location; Olsen, Nils; Perceptions; Practitioners and Faculty; Relationship with UB Law; Reputation; Retirement; Schlegel, John; Student Culture; UB Law School general; Women

Subjects: UB LAW FACULTY