Alumni Spotlights are Q&A's with former Brandeis student-athletes, across a myriad of disciplines, as they reflect on their Brandeis experience and how it has shaped their lives today. Read more spotlight features here. 

Name: Jason Roberts '03
Sport: Men's Basketball
Current job: Lawyer, Employment Litigator, Fisher & Phillips, LLC

Jason Roberts grew up in a housing project in Brooklyn, N.Y. and the first sport he actually took up was boxing at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Boxing Center. After taking an uppercut from a future Olympic boxer, Roberts decided that he would start playing basketball instead.  He moved to New Jersey for high school where he won several individual basketball accolades at the county level while his team won both state and county titles during his tenure. On Brandeis' men's basketball team, Roberts was named Rookie of the Year and UAA Player of the Week.  As of this writing, Roberts is top-5 in career blocked shots, top-10 in career blocked shots average, top-25 in career games started, and top-30 in career rebounds.  Roberts is also top-10 in field goal percentage in a season, blocked shots in a season, and blocked shots averaged in a season. After college, Roberts was featured as a contributing author in the book titled College Athlete's Guide to Academic Success: Tips from Peers and Profs written by Bob Nathanson and Arthur Kimmel.

Roberts graduated from Brandeis in 2003 with a degree in American Studies while completing the Legal Studies program.  He then moved to D.C. and received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School in 2006. In law school, Roberts had several legal internships including stints with Harlem Legal Services in New York, the Public Defender's Office in Morristown, New Jersey, and the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. After beginning his career in the employment departments of several  law firms, Roberts is now an employment litigator at Fisher & Phillips, LLP.  Roberts advises and represents companies on a variety of matters,  including employee discipline and termination, protection of confidential information, restrictive covenants, and allegations of discrimination and harassment. In his higher education work, Roberts has represented colleges and universities in a wide array of institutional settings, including large state-affiliated universities, historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), and small liberal arts colleges, on issues like student discipline and Title IX compliance.

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What drew you to Brandeis in the first place?   

The first time I heard of Brandeis University was after receiving mail from the men's basketball program. An assistant coach attended an AAU tournament I played in the New England area and sent me a questionnaire as well as Brandeis literature. As an 18-year old, I was just worried about playing basketball and whether I would play right away; however, after doing some research, I fell in love with the rich history of the university and was amazed by notable alumni like Angela Davis.  I learned that it was an exceptional academic institution, and I would be able to excel both academically and athletically. I visited campus with my older brother to meet with the head coach and loved the sprawling campus and was excited when the coach explained that the Boston Celtics used to practice where I would be playing. I was hooked, and even though I had offers locally in New Jersey where I lived, I committed to Brandeis after one visit.

Describe your overall experience as a student-athlete. What does it mean to you now/what did it mean to you while you were an undergraduate?

My experience as a student-athlete helped me excel then and now. What athletics provided me was structure. During the day, I knew I had to allot time to lift weights. I knew I had practice. I knew I had class. I knew I had to eat, and I knew I had to study. I realized early on that I needed to be organized to get these things done.  I use this same approach now in my law practice. I know I need time to return e-mails, conduct Zoom meetings, read, write, and edit. My current routine is directly attributed to the structure I created while I was a Brandeis student-athlete.

Do you have any advice for current or future Brandeis student-athletes?

My advice, quite simply, would be to enjoy your time in college and not be in a rush to get to the "real world." College is an amazing transition period for you to find what makes you feel alive, experience new things, argue, be curious,  travel, learn about people and cultures you might not have been exposed to, and have conversations with people that do not agree with you. It goes by fast; so be certain to take advantage of the time you have.  The "real world" will be there in due time.

What prompted you to pursue a career in law?

As a kid, I was always fascinated by lawyers and being in the courtroom.  However, what galvanized my decision to pursue law was an Introduction to Law class that I took at Brandeis. I realized that some of my professors had juris doctorates, and I picked their brains about becoming a lawyer. I was in a seminar class taught by Shannon Frison who was an amazing instructor and an inspiration to me. I also learned a lot from Professor Mary Davis who helped me with my decision in selecting a law school and Professor Richard Gaskins who celebrated my decision to become a lawyer. At Brandeis, as part of the Legal Studies program, I interned in the Drug Court in the probation department at the East Boston District Court.  I was able to regularly see court proceedings and lawyers in action. Needless to say, Brandeis was integral in my pursuit of a legal career.

How have you stayed engaged with the Brandeis community since graduation?

In October 2023, I was back on campus and attended homecoming with my Brandeis basketball teammate to celebrate our 20^th year after graduating. It was also Brandeis' 75^th Anniversary Weekend Celebration.  Over the years, I have connected with many alumni that have graduated before and after me. I also follow several of the Brandeis related accounts on social media, including the basketball teams. Finally, I try to attend the Brandeis basketball games at NYU every year.

What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of since you graduated?

Professionally, I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent clients in disputes around the country. I've litigated cases in numerous states on behalf of corporations and businesses. I have been named as a "Top 40 Under 40" Nation's Best Advocates by the National Bar Association and a Super Lawyers Rising Star in the area of Employment Litigation Defense. I've served on the Board of Advisors for Widener Law School's Legal Education Institute and have participated in several expungement clinics in Philadelphia. Personally, I'm proud of being a mentor to several young lawyers and a Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware. Finally, notwithstanding these accomplishments, my most important accomplishments are my two beautiful daughters, McKenzie and Celine, who bring joy to my life every single day.