By MATT CHANDLER
Buffalo Law Journal

Hon. John Elfvin spent more than a third of his life serving on the federal bench. During that time, Elfvin hired and mentored an estimated 40 law clerks who went on to build successful law careers.

One year after Elfvin passed away at age 91, those onetime clerks have mobilized to form the Hon. John T. Elfvin Memorial Scholarship Fund through the University at Buffalo Law School.

Attorneys from across the Western New York legal community used words like "tough," "intelligent" and "fair" to describe their former boss, and said they embraced the chance to add to his legacy.

Two former Elfvin clerks, Phillips Lytle LLP partners John Schmidt and James Donathen, spearheaded the idea of creating a scholarship in the judge's name.

"When he passed away, we wanted to come up with something to remember him by," said Schmidt. "He didn't always have the best press in Buffalo and I don't think he particularly cared about media coverage, but we were all very fond of him, and to a person we would all say he was the best boss we ever had."

Many of Elfvin's former clerks would come together every five years, Schmidt said, to honor the judge on his milestone anniversaries on the bench. "He was described to me as a trial lawyer's judge, and I don't know anybody that did not appreciate practicing in front of him," he said.

Jeremy Colby, a partner in Webster Szanyi LLP who served as a law clerk for Elfvin from 2002-05, said his former boss was a special man who is missed in the legal community.

"My words will fall far short of adequately describing what he means to me," Colby said. "He was intellectual, but not conceited. He had a great sense of humor and he treated all parties - litigants, attorneys, criminal defendants - with dignity and respect."

The clerks hope to direct the scholarship to a student who matches the profile of what Elfvin looked for in his law clerks.

"I remember that at his 30th anniversary party, (Elfvin) said to us as a group that he didn't always pick the top in the class," Schmidt said. "He wanted to pick someone who was bright, intelligent, and a good lawyer, but he wanted the clerkship to act as something that would benefit their career."

So far, the attorneys say, the response has been positive, with one anonymous donor sending in a check for $5,000 to the fund. While the effort is still in its early stages, they hope that it offers a chance to an aspiring attorney similar to what Elfvin offered each of them as they were starting out.

The scholarship is intended to be an annual award, in an amount yet to be determined.

"Judge Elfvin was a demanding person to work for, but in the right way," Donathen said. "He expected a high quality of work, but was very appreciative of the contributions of his clerks.

"He was a father figure to us," he said. "I had enormous respect for him."

To contribute to the Hon. John T. Elfvin Memorial Scholarship Fund, send checks to: Alan Carrel, vice dean for administration, University at Buffalo Law School, Elfvin Memorial Scholarship Fund, 311 O'Brian Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-1100.