Hon. Jeffrey S. White ’70

Partial Transcript: I actually started out pre-Med at Queens College. But I didn't have a very good aptitude for science, so I began, almost serendipitously, to take courses in Constitutional Law. My professors inspired me to take additional courses in pre-Law and it became a labor of love. As to my choice of UB, I come from a pretty poor economical background and there were not too many law schools I could afford that offered Regent's Scholarships and loans. My parents were alive but, economically, I was on my own. UB was in NY, affordable, and I was accepted there. I liked that it was a small, intimate Law School at the time. It was an easy choice on that basis.

Segment Synopsis: I actually started out pre-Med at Queens College. But I didn't have a very good aptitude for science, so I began, almost serendipitously, to take courses in Constitutional Law. My professors inspired me to take additional courses in pre-Law and it became a labor of love. As to my choice of UB, I come from a pretty poor economical background and there were not too many law schools I could afford that offered Regent's Scholarships and loans. My parents were alive but, economically, I was on my own. UB was in NY, affordable, and I was accepted there. I liked that it was a small, intimate Law School at the time. It was an easy choice on that basis.

Keywords: Choosing UB Law School; Tuition; Undergraduate Education

Subjects: EDUCATION; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Partial Transcript: The Dean was William Hawkland, an expert on Uniform Commercial Code. A couple of professors who stand out in my mind: W. Howard Mann, a Constitutional Law professor, made the Constitution come alive. Way ahead of his time, he taught the Constitution in terms of fundamental human rights, studying it to determine what are those unalienable fundamental rights, and also in a practical context, how you make a constitutional claim, how you plead and prove a prima fascia case for constitutional violation. The other professor that stands out was Professor Kenneth Joyce, my Tax professor. Tax was a required one-year course back then. Every student had to take Estate Gifts and Income Taxation. He made a confounding subject, the tax laws, into something interesting, that had principles to it -- not just a bunch of code sections -- and he made it enjoyable. I've never practiced Tax Law, but I recently sat on the Ninth Court of Appeals, by invitation, and the first case I was assigned to write was a tax opinion. Now that I am teaching in Law School, I appreciate a professor who can take a complex subject, make it understandable, interesting, and alive, and Prof. Joyce did that for me.

Segment Synopsis: The Dean was William Hawkland, an expert on Uniform Commercial Code. A couple of professors who stand out in my mind: W. Howard Mann, a Constitutional Law professor, made the Constitution come alive. Way ahead of his time, he taught the Constitution in terms of fundamental human rights, studying it to determine what are those unalienable fundamental rights, and also in a practical context, how you make a constitutional claim, how you plead and prove a prima fascia case for constitutional violation. The other professor that stands out was Professor Kenneth Joyce, my Tax professor. Tax was a required one-year course back then. Every student had to take Estate Gifts and Income Taxation. He made a confounding subject, the tax laws, into something interesting, that had principles to it -- not just a bunch of code sections -- and he made it enjoyable. I've never practiced Tax Law, but I recently sat on the Ninth Court of Appeals, by invitation, and the first case I was assigned to write was a tax opinion. Now that I am teaching in Law School, I appreciate a professor who can take a complex subject, make it understandable, interesting, and alive, and Prof. Joyce did that for me.

Keywords: Classes; Continuing Role; Deans; Faculty / Professors; Law Professor; Tax Law; Teaching Law

Subjects: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE; UB LAW AS STUDENT

Partial Transcript: Today's Law School is a very different institution from when I attended. I have only recently been re-introduced to the school by Dean Mutua, and I'm excited by what he's done. Many of the things being done by the top law schools, UB is doing it better. Even the [North] Campus didn't exist when I was here much less the Law School building; it was like seeing a new Law School. It was fun and exciting to talk to the Skills Professor Gardner, to speak to a member of the Law Review, and to speak to different Recruiting Departments. It was a different place but a better place, one that was attuned with today. I am proud to associated with the institution even though it was different than the Downtown Eagle Street school. Seeing it again was very nostalgic. There are only a few people with whom I have stayed in intermittent contact.

Segment Synopsis: Today's Law School is a very different institution from when I attended. I have only recently been re-introduced to the school by Dean Mutua, and I'm excited by what he's done. Many of the things being done by the top law schools, UB is doing it better. Even the [North] Campus didn't exist when I was here much less the Law School building; it was like seeing a new Law School. It was fun and exciting to talk to the Skills Professor Gardner, to speak to a member of the Law Review, and to speak to different Recruiting Departments. It was a different place but a better place, one that was attuned with today. I am proud to associated with the institution even though it was different than the Downtown Eagle Street school. Seeing it again was very nostalgic. There are only a few people with whom I have stayed in intermittent contact.

Keywords: Amherst Campus; Continuing Role; Deans; Eagle Street Campus; Law School History; Legal Education; Reputation

Subjects: TEACHING; UB LAW MISCELLANEOUS

Partial Transcript: It sounds corny but I am a poor boy from Brooklyn, the first attorney in my family, the first to graduate college. It shows that you can succeed on your merits and that once you show you can be successful, it doesn't matter where you came from, where you were brought up, what your pedigree is, or even what school you attended. If you do well, have a passion, and really enjoy what you're doing, that's what I've had and it has served me very well. I was appointed by President Bush on recommendation of a joint committee. Most of the people I was competing against went to Ivy League schools, were from the West Coast, and were politically connected. It show that if you work hard and persevere, the rest doesn't matter. My first job out of Law School was in the Justice Department Honor's Program Criminal Division, Labor-Racketeering Section. I met a Law Clerk, Ron Malone, from the West Coast. We became good friends. We worked together and tried cases together. Ron returned to California in 1977 to work for a big law firm, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, what we call a "silk stocking" or "white shoes firm": all Ivy League people. Ron recruited me to go to California and my wife agreed. I worked for Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe for 24 years, was very successful. I ran the Litigation department.

Segment Synopsis: It sounds corny but I am a poor boy from Brooklyn, the first attorney in my family, the first to graduate college. It shows that you can succeed on your merits and that once you show you can be successful, it doesn't matter where you came from, where you were brought up, what your pedigree is, or even what school you attended. If you do well, have a passion, and really enjoy what you're doing, that's what I've had and it has served me very well. I was appointed by President Bush on recommendation of a joint committee. Most of the people I was competing against went to Ivy League schools, were from the West Coast, and were politically connected. It show that if you work hard and persevere, the rest doesn't matter. My first job out of Law School was in the Justice Department Honor's Program Criminal Division, Labor-Racketeering Section. I met a Law Clerk, Ron Malone, from the West Coast. We became good friends. We worked together and tried cases together. Ron returned to California in 1977 to work for a big law firm, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, what we call a "silk stocking" or "white shoes firm": all Ivy League people. Ron recruited me to go to California and my wife agreed. I worked for Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe for 24 years, was very successful. I ran the Litigation department.

Keywords: Academic vs. Career Success; Judiciary; Law Firms; Value of Education

Subjects: CAREER: LEGAL; EDUCATION; PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE