Michele A. Brown ’79

Michele A. Brown, a 1979 graduate of the University at Buffalo School of Law, was born at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Illinois. After moving to Buffalo and graduating from Williamsville High School, she attended the University of Northern Colorado to study history. Brown spent a few years working as a waitress, bartender, and bank teller before her parents and mentor, Ward Levy, persuaded her to go to law school.

While in law school, Brown continued to work part-time, first at a bank and then as a clerk for attorney Ben Leader. At his firm, she explored various legal fields, from real estate to criminal defense, before finding her passion in family law. She credits the UB School of Law with giving her the "grittiness" to succeed in a demanding field. Brown's career path shifted toward child advocacy when a family court judge encouraged her to join the law guardian panel, a role she's held for decades.

In 1999, Brown was appointed Chief Attorney for the Children's Legal Center, a position she said "meant the world" to her. The center's mission is to provide continuous advocacy for children, often following them through related neglect or abuse proceedings. Brown also serves on the Fourth Department's Attorneys for Children Advisory Committee, where she has chaired subcommittees rewriting statewide guidelines and ethics rules and organizing continuing legal education programs.

Brown recalls the profound influence of mentors like Ben Leader and a Harvard-trained legal aid lawyer who urged her to "take care of others." She continues to mentor young lawyers and clients, reminding them there's "a place in the law for everyone." Her dedication hasn't gone unnoticed. In 2023, she received the Dillon Lifetime Achievement Award, the Howard Levine Award from the New York State Bar Association, and the Bar Association of Erie County's Attorney of the Year award.

Brown stresses the importance of self-care and finding a happy place, whether through puzzles, needlepoint, or working in Surrogate Court on adoptions. She urges young attorneys to explore diverse practice areas and prioritize family moments over work. Brown advises, "there will always be more work, but your kids are only young once." Reflecting on her career, Brown never intended to be a public service lawyer but sees her decades of child advocacy as a natural extension of doing what she loves: helping children and finding common ground in families.