Carmen L. Snell '92

Carmen L. Snell, a first-generation college student from Buffalo's East Side, was inspired by her mother's emphasis on education and television portrayals of iconic lawyers like Thurgood Marshall. She chose to attend the University at Buffalo School of Law after studying criminal justice at the University of Dayton.

Snell now has over two decades of experience providing strategic legal counsel across corporate, government, and law firm settings. She credits her success to a blend of education, mentorship, and community service. She recalls a collegial environment at UB Law, where supportive peers and influential mentors like Professor Judy Scales-Trent and Judge Hugh Scott fostered her development. She also gained practical experience through moot court and the domestic violence clinic and was inspired by Assistant Dean Andra Newell's message to view classmates as allies.

Although she originally aspired to a career in family or criminal law, she pivoted to corporate and transactional work due to professional and financial opportunities, gaining experience at the Goldberg Segalla law firm and the New York State Attorney General’s Office before joining BlueCross BlueShield (now Highmark).

Snell’s career path reflects a commitment to balance. Early in her career, she transitioned from a demanding litigation role with the Attorney General’s office to a more predictable corporate position to better balance her professional life with raising her daughter. She did not pressure her children to follow her into law; instead, she encouraged them to pursue their own passions, continuing her mother's philosophy.

Throughout her career, Snell has emphasized the importance of mentorship and giving back, which she considers essential. She has mentored law students at UB and through the Minority Bar Association, and advised colleagues, especially women, on career advancement. She also highlights the challenges she faced as one of the few Black attorneys in Buffalo law firms, which motivated her to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Snell’s professional achievements extend beyond corporate leadership to include extensive community service on various boards and committees. For her, true success is inseparable from community impact. She encourages young lawyers to be open to opportunities, build networks, and embrace the responsibility of lifting others. She continues to mentor a recent UB Law graduate, demonstrating her belief that professional success and personal fulfillment are interconnected.