In 1946, Louis Stokes completed his military service and returned home to Cleveland, Ohio. Taking advantage of the G.I. Bill, Stokes enrolled in college and eventually earned his law degree from the Cleveland Marshall Law School. Serving as a day-to-day lawyer, Louis Stokes defended many African-Americans in the courtroom and focused his career on securing and safeguarding civil rights. Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown was one of his most famous clients.