WOMEN OF WESTERN NEW YORK

Davitta Alexander
Life, Love and the Law
We often hear about lawyers getting a bad reputation. The profession as a whole is often given
grievances for being unethical. Ironically enough, it is one of the few professions that is policed
by ethical rules and failure to follow said rules of professional conduct can lead to a lawyer losing the
right to practice or more commonly know as being disbarred. Do not pass GO and do not collect $200!
Divitta Alexander disagrees with this notion of the profession, stating that being a lawyer
is a service job. You are helping those with a problem they can’t handle themselves.
As a young girl growing up she always wanted to become a lawyer and it is rare a person
can live out their childhood dreams. Her story is powerful and filled with motivation
for us to pull from. Why is Divitta Alexander a woman to watch? See for yourself!
A City Honors graduate, she went on to the University of Michigan. It was here Divitta was
inspired by her math professor to pursue a degree in applied mathematics. This would allow
her to teach classes at Buffalo State College such as Algebra and Geometry. She had decided
the next move for her would be to get her Masters in Business Administration (MBA). But
after taking the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), she decided an MBA would
not be the best choice. It was at this time, during the mid-90’s, that companies such as Enron
were going through turmoil. As a result, she found graduates with an MBA had hard times getting
jobs. Divitta then took some time off and got a job working as a secretary in a law firm. It
was while working here she decided to chase her dream of becoming a lawyer and applied to
law school. Our very own SUNY Buffalo Law School made the great choice in accepting her!
Anyone who has attempted to pursue a degree in law understands the time and hard work
required to finish. However, imagine having a six-month year when you began law school?
Still not tough enough for you? Okay what if you had a second child during law school?
Now, I have your attention. But let me also add to the equation that you do not take any time
off from school. So now, you are a mother, full-time law student, and nothing is free in life so
Davitta Alexander
Counselor
by Chris Killings
you also work a full time job. It would have been easy to make any number of excuses.
Divitta Alexander made none and completed her law degree at U.B. She remembers
she took two months off of work and gave studying for the New York state Bar exam
her full attention. She passed the first time stating, “I had to pass the first time because
I could not afford to spend more time studying for it. My children depended on me.”
And she did not let them down, as she steps up to the plate time and time again.
As a lawyer, she works with a focus on transactional law as it relates to commercial
real estate and affordable housing. She is the dealmaker on your team making
phone calls, reviewing documents and drawing up contracts. Ultimately, bringing
two parties together so that a vacant lot can begin development or two companies
can agree on terms of development. With the ongoing development in the
city, Divitta is keeping busy. While working in this area of law, Divitta has learned
a lot from her various mentors and has developed great technical skills . She has recently
started her own law firm! I know what you’re thinking. She went from taking
calls as a secretary to having to put you on hold because businesses are calling her.
Divitta Alexander, Esq.
Divitta Alexander PLLC
50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1400-122
Buffalo, New York 14202
Phone: (716) 725-3123
photo by Xavier’s