Oakland County, MI

About Solon Phillips

Oakland County's first African American Corporation Counsel, Solon M. Phillips has nearly 20 years of experience in municipal law including leadership positions in local government and courts in Southeast Michigan.

Solon was born and raised in Pontiac, served as general counsel for 36th District Court in Detroit before coming to the county. He was also the chief legal officer for Southfield Public Schools, chief administrative corporation counsel for the City of Detroit Law Department, and assistant corporation counsel for Wayne County. He also played a key role in the formation of the Great Lakes Water Authority as deputy chief of staff for the Wayne County Executive.

He earned his law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a bachelor's degree in political science from Florida A&M University. Before becoming a lawyer, the Pontiac Northern graduate taught history for several years at the Hyattsville Middle School in Hyattsville, Md.