a native of philadelphia, pennsylvania, dubois graduated from the university of pennsylvania in 1952, with a bachelor of science degree. from 1952 to 1954 he served in the united states army. he received his bachelor of laws from yale law school in 1957. while at law school, he served as a clerk in the civil division of the united states department of justice in 1956. after graduation, he was a law clerk to judge harry ellis kalodner of the united states court of appeals for the third circuit from 1957 to 1958. from 1958 to 1988 he worked in private practice in philadelphia.