Laurence K. Rubin '77

Segment Synopsis: Background and family. Grew up in NYC in Bronx and then Queens. Went to Forest Hills High School. Mother, Father, brother 7 years older. Jewish family. Father worked Lower East Side, mother was a receptionist in Manhattan. Neighbor provided daycare for Rubin. Lower East side migration to Forest Hills. College at New Paltz and law school in Buffalo. No real role models for a legal career. Uncle practiced law and lost first case defending another uncle in a criminal matter. Karen Peters retired at presiding judge in Third Department, represented him in his first lawsuit against Ulster County Board of Elections. Applied to Urban Planning and Law School. Accepted at UB for Law. Met a local girl and 45 years later, still in Buffalo.

Keywords: Choice of Law; Choosing UB Law School; Family; Spouse; Undergraduate Education

Subjects: EDUCATION; FAMILY HISTORY; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Why Buffalo? Bad career counseling at New Paltz, looked at state schools. UB was socially active. Red Schwartz was a non-lawyer as dean of law school (he was a sociologist). Oblivious to campus. 2nd class at Amherst campus and living in dorm and classmates were mostly local. Buffalo was a conservative, traditional bar town. New Paltz was more liberal. Joined National Lawyers Guild Student Group and was his study group. Tax 1 with Ken Joyce. Weird letter grading system like "H". Jake Hyman for Civil Procedure. Lybecker for Corporations who had come from SEC. Schlegel for Judicial Decision Making in the Second Circuit, a reading and writing course. Went to NYC and sat in on Second Circuit court and met with Judge Moore. Bill Greiner was Property professor, and State and Local Government. Getting diploma from Greiner. Personal interactions with faculty gave him personal attachment to law. Summer before third year, knocked on Les Foschio's door who was Corporation Counsel and Jim Magavern who was County Attorney. Jim hired him as intern.

Keywords: Choice of Law; Choosing UB Law School; Classes; Greiner, William; Hyman, Jacob; Internships; Joyce, Kenneth; Law Faculty; Law Professor; Schwartz, Richard; UB Law School

Subjects: LAW; UB LAW AS STUDENT; UB LAW FACULTY

Segment Synopsis: Rubin serving as county attorney. State and Municipal law with Milt Kaplan who introduced him to Magavern. Wrote a paper on Community Development Block Grant Act of 1974 as Applied to Counties in NYS. Always been interested in public service. Job as law clerk, appointed assistant county attorney, recruited as in-house economic development counsel. Griffin appoints him Corporation Counsel for City of Buffalo and he later serves as Corporation Counsel for Erie County. Bob Casey was his political mentor, got him involved in politics. Represents developers going against governments and governments dealing with developers. Arnold Gardner, another mentor, brings him to Kavinoky Cook to work on arena deal. Speaks "government-ese" and has worked on a number of public/private economic development projects. Sense of satisfaction with projects he's worked on.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Law Firms; Laws; Practice

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Accomplishments which stand out: Looks at the buildings he helped build, arena, fountain plaza ice skating rink, pedestrian bridges, redevelopment of Hens and Kelly building, Canalside. Canalside plans changed from planned modern development to historical tribute project. Proud of work for Not-for-profits, FeedMoreWNY, feels he made a difference. His parents instilled his strong public service ethic. Mother was an activist. At 15, he had to get a job or volunteer for summer. Anti-war activities and student government activity/interest. Growing up in the '60s and '70s, with Civil Rights Movement and anti-war activities.

Keywords: Accomplishments; Community Service

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Spends a great deal of time in public service, mentions organizations he's been involved with. Buffalo quality of life. Career advice? Do something you enjoy and find rewarding. Story of Steve Semple encouraging public service among lawyers who are already engaged in public service. Law is about justice and justice is about community. They go together. Friendships that sustained from law school. New Paltz was kind of hippie. Law School more rigid, regular academic regiment. Doesn't recall specific law school friends. Jim Magavern would be one. Met wife summer of 1976; she was the roommate of a college friend who introduced them. August 20th will be 43rd Anniversary. Wife is an urban planner who kept her maiden name. They worked on Buffalo Place planning; he worked on the legislation. Jim Militello encouraged Jim Griffin to get Rubin involved in project. Only special assessment in NYS set up at the county level. Small town Buffalo story of Dick Slisz not knowing they were married.

Keywords: Community Service; Relationship with UB Law; Spouse; Student Culture

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; FAMILY HISTORY; LAW; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Segment Synopsis: Involvement with UB Law. Jim Magavern would bring him in as a guest lecturer on urban planning, economic development courses. First year oral argument matters, Buffalo State Mock Trial Competitions, life member of UB Law Alumni Association. Location of Law School is suburbs, rather than city near his offices affects level of interaction. Moving the Law School downtown. Family thought he would be a rabbi, instead he's a 'government rabbi'. Still negotiates deals for the temple. Role of Judaism in his life. Thanks family and UB Law School. Conclusion.

Keywords: Alumni Association; Location; Moot Court; Relationship with UB Law; Teaching Law; UB Law School general

Subjects: PERSONAL ISSUES; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS