By MATT CHANDLER AND QINA LIU
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

Emery Lewis wants to be a lawyer.

More specifically, he wants to be a practicing lawyer in Western New York.

Now, thanks to an initiative by the Minority Bar Association of Western New York and the University at Buffalo Law School, that dream is one step closer to becoming reality.

Lewis is one of two UB Law students currently working as clerks at Goldberg Segalla LLP as part of the new Law Firm Diversity Program.

The collaborative program provides opportunities for minority law students from UB to gain firsthand experience in the legal system. Several are involved in summer clerkships in area courts and have an opportunity to get up close and see the relationships between judges and trial lawyers, as well as meet one-on-one with judges.

More students will meet with judges during the fall.

"What's nice is the number of judges who do participate," says Lisa Patterson, UB Law School associate dean for career services. "The judges are interacting with (the students) and talking about things."

Judge Lenora Foote-Beavers, family court support magistrate, said it's a win-win situation for everyone involved.

"It definitely benefits the students because they are able to get hands-on experience," she says. "It's good for the court system because the law students are learning in the legal system." 

Also, she said the program furthers the mission of the Minority Bar by mentoring students.

"It will ultimately give them so much more leverage in the future," she says.

The hiring of Lewis, along with second-year law student Han Kim, marked the beginning of the program's second phase: expanding beyond the courts and into law firms.

"We're excited that the program is expanding to give students the opportunity to gain valuable experience and an inside understanding of the workings of a law firm," says Joseph Hanna, president of the Minority Bar and a partner in Goldberg Segalla.

"We will be reaching out to other firms in the near future in an effort to get more law firms interested and involved in this program. Our aim is to create resume-building jobs here in the Western New York market for the lawyers of tomorrow - and ultimately to help increase diversity in the legal profession, both locally and nationally," he says.

As for Lewis, the 23-year-old Rochester native is preparing for his second year of law school. He says the program has given him a leg up in what is becoming a highly competitive job market for young attorneys.

"I'm in a situation where I am with a firm that cares about me as an individual; I'm not just a number," he says. "This is more than just a clerkship. I'm actually learning while I'm here, and I am going to come out of this program better than when I came in."

It's a long way from a coffee-fetching, paper-filing clerkship, according to Lewis. He described his time with the firm - he has worked there as a clerk since May - as a great experience. 

"Just the fact that every day when I come into work I am able to talk with Mr. Goldberg or Mr. Segalla is, of itself, an experience," he says. "They have so much wisdom and knowledge gained through their careers, they sort of nurture myself and the other clerk. And along with our supervisors, they take a hands-on approach with us."

Rick Cohen, the law firm's managing partner, says he looks forward to seeing the program expand beyond Goldberg Segalla in coming years.

"It's clear that there are a number of very promising minority candidates at UB Law," Cohen says. "We've been really pleased with the quality of the work."

Among the many supporters of the diversity program is Makau Mutua, dean of the UB Law School.

"This new program has incredible promise," Mutua says. "We are grateful to the Minority Bar Association, Joe Hanna and the firm for being such supportive partners in this initiative."

He and others say they hope the program will gain momentum. With more involvement from Western New York law firms, it hopes to reach its goal of opening doors and making connections for minority students. That will help them to remain in the region to practice law, if they so desire.

"We see so many great opportunities for our young law students to work here in Western New York," Hanna says. "I am hopeful that with each group working together, we can make those connections and keep the next generation of attorneys right here in Buffalo."

Lewis says he wants to count himself among those who aren't forced to leave the area in search of a job.

"I would absolutely love to stay here - both in Buffalo and at Goldberg Segalla," he says.

"I feel like this is a family here and I want to be part of it."