Appreciating our outstanding volunteers
There are dozens of ways to help further the mission of UB School of Law, and our many volunteers are key partners in that broad-based effort. They give their time, energy, and resources to support the school—and most especially our students—with an extraordinary level of commitment.
That’s important not only because students benefit from the hard-earned lessons of our volunteers’ legal practice, but because justice is a collaborative enterprise. There’s no substitute for the networking and career guidance that real-world lawyers can provide to those aspiring to become part of the profession.
New York State Appellate Division Justice E. Jeannette Ogden ’83 best conveyed the lasting impact of giving back when accepting the 2025 Edwin F. Jaeckle Award, “The key to having students invest in the school after they leave often depends on how they’re treated while they’re there.” Justice Ogden has been an active volunteer at the law school for decades. In January, she was honored for her selfless service with the law school and the Law Alumni Association’s highest award. [View the Jaeckle Award Video]
Now, during Volunteer Appreciation Month, we want to thank our many volunteers, like Justice Ogden and so many others, and acknowledge the critical difference they make for our students.
“We have some of the most engaged alumni volunteers across the university,” says UB Law Dean S. Todd Brown. “They serve as mentors to our students, teach classes, coach trial teams, hire our students and graduates, and help them make connections to launch their careers. And they provide generous financial support for the many programs that are critical to student success. I am deeply grateful for their partnership.”
A small sampling of our extraordinary volunteer partners agreed to share their thoughts on why they give back:
Hon. John B. Licata '92 and Fonda D. Kubiak '94 are named Best Judges at the 2024 Buffalo Niagara Mock Trial Competition.
Hon. John Licata ’92, supervising judge of the New York State Supreme Court Civil Division, Eighth Judicial District, teaches Trial Technique and provides guidance and support to the law school’s trial teams.
“My years at UB were underscored by compassion, consideration, and empathy from both educators and students,” Licata says. “Volunteering is a way to honor that legacy and express my gratitude. There’s a saying about Buffalonians when the weather gets challenging: It’s Buffalo, you show up. Volunteering at UB Law is the same thing, without the wind chill.”
Kerisha Hawthorne-Greer '14 and Todd J. Potter Jr. '15 serve as mentors to first-year law students.
Kerisha Hawthorne-Greer ’14 serves as principal law clerk to New York State Court of Claims Judge Stephanie Saunders ’00 and has participated in our student mentoring program for many years.
“I’m a firm believer in the adage ‘to whom much is given, much is expected,’ ” she says. “The law school and mentors I met while in law school contributed a lot to my success in the legal profession. Without these individuals who volunteered their time to mentor students like me or sit on panels, I would not be where I am now and build the connections I did. It was a no-brainer for me to give back to the students and law school with my time upon graduation. It’s a rewarding experience, and I hope to be of help to first-generation law students who may not have easy access to practicing lawyers.”
Students in our NYC Program in Business and Law visited Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP on Seventh Avenue.
Allison Tam ’97, a partner with Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, hosts participants in the New York City Program in Business and Law at her firm, and helps to place students in the New York City legal market.
“My time at UB Law helped me in so many ways, including paving the way to a fulfilling career, developing lifelong friends and even finding a husband!” Tam says. “Because of this, I wanted to give back and help students as much as I could, whether it be recruiting students at my firm, teaching a class in the New York City Program in Business and Law, or helping them navigate career decisions. It has been a very rewarding experience, and I look forward to continuing to meet and help the next group of students.”
Andrew M. Wilson '98 with Lippes Mathias Scholars, Rick Delatour and Marianny Solis Guzman, at the 2024 Discover Law Opening Reception.
And Andrew Wilson ’98, named this year’s Students of Color Ally of the Year, has been instrumental in furthering the Discover Law Program that seeks to expose historically underrepresented and first-generation students to the possibility of law as a profession. A partner at Lippes Mathias LLP, Wilson organizes an event every summer at his firm for the Discover Law scholars, helps identify mentors, and has mentored several scholars himself throughout the program and long after they have completed it.
“No one achieves anything or reaches a goal on their own,” Wilson points out. “That was certainly true for me. I had many people help me get to law school, help me get through law school, and help me overcome challenges in my professional career. I enjoy paying that forward with younger generations and offering any guidance that may be helpful. I definitely do not have all of the answers, but hopefully I have gained some insights on asking the right questions.”