When Bob Hertzberg (Wiest Class, 1979) arrived at Cooley Law School in 1976, he was determined to overcome obstacles that had plagued his education since childhood. Now, the retired lawyer, who once argued in front of the United States Supreme Court, is giving back to the school that gave him his start in the legal profession.
“Cooley took a chance on me,” Hertzberg said. “Now, I want to help the next student who needs a similar chance.”
As a child, Hertzberg was diagnosed with dyslexia and struggled academically because of the condition. If it weren’t for Cooley and the support he received from his parents, Hertzberg might not have gone on to achieve his dream of becoming a lawyer like his father.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the opportunity that Cooley gave me,” Hertzberg said.
Bob, and his wife, Julie Hertzberg, are working with Cooley Law School to develop new programs that support students who face learning challenges or other barriers to success — students who, like Bob, have the potential to thrive if given the right tools and educational support system.
Their vision includes building a committee of alumni and professionals dedicated to creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for students with learning differences, mental health needs, or unique life circumstances.
“Sometimes it’s not just about a learning disability,” Julie Hertzberg explained. “It could be anxiety, test-taking difficulties, or simply needing guidance on how to apply for the bar. We want to help students succeed by giving them access to tools and mentorship that make a real difference.”
The initiative also includes exploring long-term funding opportunities, such as a self-sustaining endowment that would continue supporting these programs for future generations.
The Hertzbergs hope fellow Cooley alumni will join the effort.
“Mentorship matters,” said Bob Hertzberg. “Maybe you can’t make a big financial contribution, but giving an hour of your time to help a student — sharing how you passed the bar or navigated a difficult time — can change a life.”
While growing up, Bob Hertzberg was inspired to pursue a career in law by his father, a bankruptcy attorney. Despite a low high school GPA, he applied to Eastern Michigan University and was accepted on probation. Upon move-in day, his parents asked him what he was going to study in college, and he responded: “I want to be a lawyer.”
He wasn’t going to let his dyslexia or a low LSAT score interfere with that dream. Upon graduating from EMU, Bob Hertzberg enrolled at Cooley Law School.
With a brand new briefcase strapped to the back, he drove his Chopper motorcycle to his first day of class at Cooley and was immediately greeted at the door by the Honorable Thomas Brennan, founder and then dean of the law school.
“He said, ‘Good morning Mr. Hertzberg. … Welcome to Cooley Law School — and don’t ever park that bike under my office window again.’ That was my introduction to Cooley,” laughed Bob Hertzberg.
Cooley gave Bob Hertzberg his start, but it wasn’t without challenges. With his parents’ help, he was able to take his exams orally for the first year. At that time, the Americans with Disabilities Act didn’t exist, and there weren’t many resources for students with learning disabilities.
Still, Bob Hertzberg persevered. Upon graduating from Cooley, he petitioned the State Bar of Michigan to take the bar exam orally.
“They approved it,” he said. “I was the first person who was authorized to take the exam orally who wasn’t legally blind. And I passed on the first try without any issues. When I look back on it, that was pretty amazing.”
Without any job offers, Bob Hertzberg rented an office with his uncle, who practiced law, and initiated his own criminal and mental health assignments in Oakland County and Wayne County courts.
In 1981, he co-founded Hertzberg & Golden, P.C. in Birmingham, Michigan, and ran the firm for about 10 years. Fast forward to 2002, after decades as a successful bankruptcy attorney and upon his father’s retirement at Pepper Hamilton, a prestigious national law firm now known as Troutman Pepper Locke, Bob Hertzberg was invited to lead the firm’s bankruptcy division.
It was during his time at Pepper Hamilton that Bob Hertzberg had the opportunity of a lifetime: arguing before the United States Supreme Court. In 2014, he argued a bankruptcy tax case before Chief Justice John Roberts, and Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Clarence Thomas, Stephen Breyer, and Samuel Alito.
“I am fortunate to be one of the few people who have had the opportunity to argue before the United States Supreme Court,” Bob Hertzberg said, noting he declined several offers from attorneys asking him if he would like them to argue the case for him. “I was very nervous, but when I got up to argue, all my nervousness went away.”
When the Supreme Court delivered their opinion months later, Bob Hertzberg didn’t get any votes in his favor.
“Some people said that’s unfortunate. But I say, no, it isn’t,” he said. “Arguing before the United States Supreme Court is the ultimate achievement as a lawyer.”
Before retiring in 2024, Bob Hertzberg served as special litigation counsel during the City of Detroit’s historic bankruptcy and was inducted into the Michigan Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2023.
As Bob and Julie Hertzberg work with Cooley to build out their new initiative to help struggling law students, the hope is for alumni to be inspired and get involved — sharing their stories, offering mentorship, or simply contributing ideas.
“Everyone has something to give,” said Julie Hertzberg. “In today’s world, people need to remember there are others around them who may be struggling. Giving back reminds us we’re all connected.”
This article also appears in the Winter 2025 issue of Benchmark Magazine.
