He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The Citadel in 1962 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond T.C.
Schlesinger served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1968, attaining the rank of captain.
Schlesinger was an instructor at John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia from 1967 to 1968 and corporate counsel for Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in Jacksonville, Florida from 1968 to 1970.
Schlesinger was the Chief Assistant United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida from 1970 to 1975.
He served as a United States magistrate judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida from 1975 to 1991, and as an adjunct professor at the University of North Florida from 1984 to 1992.