Reed earned his B.A. in political science from Western Michigan University in 1957 and went on to complete his J.D. at the Detroit College of Law in 1962. He is well-known as a participant in municipal tax disputes, frequently appearing as counsel to townships and other municipal interests. Reed has been very active in the legal profession as a commissioner of the State Bar, a member and chairman of the State Bar Representative Assembly and a member of the Attorney Grievance Commission. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society. He visited campus in November 2005 and led a discussion of "The Constitution, 'Under God' and the Pledge of Allegiance."