Samuel S. Lionel’s life and career reflected the very best of the legal profession: service, excellence, mentorship, and a deep belief in the power of education.
Sam earned his law degree from St. John’s University at just 21 years old, and soon after answered the call to serve his country. During World War II, he earned five battle stars, later working at the Pentagon and serving as a JAG officer, eventually retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Even with a résumé defined by remarkable achievement, Sam often spoke most fondly about teaching law at West Point. He loved teaching and throughout more than eight decades in the law, he remained a generous mentor to law students and attorneys alike, always ready to share practical wisdom, encouragement, and steady guidance.
After moving to Las Vegas, Sam passed the Nevada Bar in 1954 and went on to help build one of Nevada’s most respected law firms, Lionel Sawyer & Collins, alongside former Nevada Governor Grant Sawyer and Nevada Supreme Court Justice Jon Collins. The firm became nationally known for its work with gaming and hospitality clients, and Sam’s leadership helped shape Nevada’s legal community for nearly half a century. He also dedicated many years of service to Nevada’s Board of Bar Examiners—serving as both a member and chairman—helping uphold the integrity and standards of the profession. Known by many as the unofficial “Dean of the Nevada Bar,” Sam continued working with purpose and joy, retiring from full-time practice in 2019 at the age of 100.
Sam was also one of Boyd’s earliest and most steadfast champions, supporting the law school from its inception in 1998 and receiving an Honorary Doctorate from UNLV in 2013. He believed in Boyd’s mission and in the future of Nevada’s legal community. As he said in 2020, “The law school has come a long way. We’re proud of it, and many of us remain dedicated to its future success.”
In 2021, Sam and his wife, Lexy, made a $1 million gift to support and elevate Boyd’s externship program—opening doors for students, strengthening mentorship, and ensuring that aspiring lawyers can learn in the real world alongside judges and attorneys who will help shape their professional identities. Lexy shared, “The Samuel S. Lionel Externship Program is designed to touch many lives and open opportunities for the students at the William S. Boyd School of Law. We hope our donation will make a difference for many generations to come.”
Sam recognized that immersive, hands-on learning experiences can change the course of a career, just as they did in his own life. We are honored to carry forward the Lionel legacy through the Samuel S. Lionel Externship Program. Sam and Lexy’s generosity, vision, and commitment to mentorship will continue to uplift Boyd students and strengthen the legal profession in Nevada and beyond for generations to come.
Meet our Externship Program Faculty and Staff
