degree from Boston University School of Law in 1971, where he spent his free time at the legal aid center in Dorchester protecting tenants' rights.
[3] In 1973, he moved to Los Angeles, California, doing civil rights and labor litigation for a firm that eventually became Taylor, Roth, Bush & Geffner, where Roth served as managing partner and specialized in representing entertainment guilds, labor organizations and pension, health and welfare funds in labor, entertainment, bankruptcy and transactional matters, including the United Teachers Los Angeles, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Directors Guild of America and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
Roth also modernized the Guild's infrastructure and increased internal support for members – tripling the number of field representatives, and growing the contracts department nearly five times in size.
The guild's global presence was also expanded – including staff assigned to international affairs and the development of a Coordinating Committee in London.
[14] In July 2017, Roth was presented with the first-ever IATSE Honorary Lifetime Membership Award at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees 68th Quadrennial Convention in Hollywood, Florida.