Terrence M. Connors ’71 - Jaeckle Award 2016

Terrence Connors, a founding member of the Buffalo firm Connors and Vilardo (now Connors LLP), has been active with the law school in many ways, including teaching aspects of trial technique. He is a major supporter of the school’s newly formed Advocacy Institute, which encompasses three key areas of legal training: trial advocacy, appellate advocacy and alternative dispute resolution, and serves as chair of the institute’s advisory board. His goal is to propel the law school into the highest ranks of American law schools.

Connors was an early member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, which consults with the law school dean on curricular and other matters. In that capacity, he served as chair of the last capital campaign in support of faculty scholarship and student financial aid.

Connors is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, whose membership is limited to 1 percent of the lawyers in each state, and of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, whose membership comprises just 500 trial lawyers in the United States.

His previous recognitions include a Lawyer of the Year honor from the Erie County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association’s Attorney Professionalism Award, and most recently the Charles F. Crimi Memorial Award from the Criminal Justice Section of the state Bar Association. The Law Alumni Association also has honored him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Master of Ceremonies: Hon. Eugene F. Pigott Jr., senior associate judge, New York State Court of Appeals.

Remarks presented by Robert P. Heary, UB Law Alumni Association president; SUNY Distinguished Professor James A. Gardner, UB Law interim dean; Satish K. Tripathi, UB president.

Interim Dean Gardner presents the Jaeckle Award. Terrence M. Connors offers acceptance remarks.