Dave DiBrigida ’88 built his legal career on a simple idea: People deserve honest, straightforward communication.
It’s an approach that has earned him the trust of clients for more than 30 years, but when he graduated from Lehigh with a degree in English, he wasn’t planning to become a lawyer. His latent interest in the field and the influence of his then-girlfriend, now wife Mary DiBrigida ’86, led him to consider law school.
Ultimately, it was the right fit.
During law school, DiBrigida explored several areas of practice. While his wife gravitated toward environmental law, he found his calling in personal injury law while working at an insurance defense firm and later for an attorney who specialized in the field. The work combined two things that resonated with him — building relationships through one-on-one conversations and helping people navigate some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
When he graduated from law school in 1992, the economy was struggling. The job market was uncertain across industries, including the legal field. Rather than waiting for the right opportunity to appear, DiBrigida began taking overflow work from established attorneys while building his own client base throughout New Jersey.
Before long, he opened his own personal injury firm, The Law Offices of David A. DiBrigida, helping car accident victims and other injured individuals while building a reputation for his approachable, client-focused style.
“I make a point of not talking to my clients as a lawyer,” he says. “I just give them simple, straightforward answers without jargon. I reassure them that we’re going to take care of them and advocate for them.”
Although DiBrigida never pushed his children toward any particular profession, one of his daughters, Chrissy DiBrigida ’23, found herself drawn to the field. She spent time working in his office before deciding to attend law school herself.
“We often have young college graduates come and work at our office because of their interest in going to law school,” he says. “They come and get experience with us, and it’s rewarding to play a part in that process.”
For students and young professionals considering their next steps, DiBrigida offers simple advice: Choose a career that fits your personality and one you can see yourself enjoying for years to come. Financial success, he believes, often follows genuine passion and commitment.
Today, DiBrigida’s connection to Lehigh remains strong. His oldest daughter, Alexandra DiBrigida ’17, studied journalism and communications at Lehigh. Additionally, DiBrigida maintains friendships with classmates, former teammates, and ice hockey coach Bob Beck. He and his family also support a need-based scholarship bearing their family name.
Whether through his work helping injury victims, mentorship of future attorneys, or philanthropy, DiBrigida has built a career — and a life — centered on helping others move forward.
