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

Among the many law firms with strong ties to the University at Buffalo, one has roots that run deeper than most: Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria.

In addition to having professionals who go back three generations as graduates, the firm has at least one attorney on staff who graduated from the law school in each of the last decades.

Richard Lipsitz, class of '42 - Though it may cost close to $4 per gallon to gas up your car these days, when Lipsitz graduated from UB Law, the average price at the pumps was, incredibly, 15 cents. To put that into perspective, he said that back then, the typical American had an annual salary of about $2,000.

Lipsitz shared another story that illustrated the depth of his UB experience.

"My class was scheduled to graduate in June of 1943, but because most of us were scheduled to be drafted into the Army, the law school did something unprecedented," he said. "They gave us a summer session in 1942 instead of our final spring session in 1943 so we could graduate."

After passing the bar in January, he was drafted in March and served in active duty until 1946. Now 90, he's still active in the firm as a litigator.

"I like the interactions with my colleagues," he said, "and I like the challenges that the law still presents to me. There is always something new and interesting in the work I do."

James Kirkpatrick, class of '59 - Like Lipsitz, Kirkpatrick is a military veteran. In his case, however, his time at UB Law came after military service.

"My full tuition, $1,000 a year, was paid by the government," he said. "I came away with a good education and the school did a very good job preparing us for our careers."

Eugene Salisbury, class of '60 - Considered an elder statesman among his colleagues who also graduated from UB, Salisbury offered a unique take on how the education he received ultimately shaped his career.

"You don't build lawyers in law school; you open their eyes and help them to understand. But they learn what to do when they are out," he said. "Though I had some of the best professors and administrators during my time at the law school, I think I picked up just as much from my first partners at Lipsitz as I did in law school."  

Robert Boreanaz, class of '89 - "I went to UB Law School because it was a great law school at a phenomenal price," he said.

Though his father was a prominent criminal defense lawyer and graduate of UB, he said he initially didn't intend to follow in his father's footsteps.

"At the conclusion of college, I was uncertain as to what career path I would take, but I was intrigued by the prospects of law school and all of the possibilities," Boreanaz said.

Thomas Mercure, class of '96 - As a transplant to Western New York, Mercure said he was attracted to the region because of the law school. The native of Hudson Falls said he applied to a number of law schools but when he got accepted at UB, he knew it was where he wanted to go.

"I can tell you two things about my time at UB," he said. "I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the education, and because of coming here and living here, I will be a lifelong resident of Western New York."

Thomas Burnham, class of '03 - "I was a transfer student, and when I started at UB, I began working in the law library," he said.

"I remember my first week there was 9/11, and I remember being in the law library and somebody wheeling out a couple of TVs so we could see the live feed of everything that was going on. That's a memory from my time at UB that will always stick in my mind in terms of where I was when that occurred."

Rebecca Wanat, class of '10 - As the firm's most recent UB grad, Rebecca Wanat has big shoes to fill. She is a third-generation attorney at Lipsitz Green and the granddaughter of Eugene Salisbury. Though she isn't too far removed from her college experience, she considers UB Law a valuable asset because of the strong local ties it has to the community.

"Another great aspect for me was the adjunct professors at the school," she said. "Not only do they teach you the law, but they give you an insight into the legal community and a sense of what you can expect when you are out there practicing."