The Legal Beat

McGeorge Law, The Perfect Place For Money Trees?
Posted on Tuesday October 19, 2021

The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, Justice Anthony Kennedy’s stomping grounds, has just received a large amount of money — $30 million, in fact. Much of it is slated for student scholarships, and $20 million of that is intended for need-based scholarships that will benefit first-generation students and students of color. This is great news considering that only five years ago, Pacific McGeorge Law had the eighth highest rate of unemployed graduates. And it’s made some sacrifices because of the economy. But as it turns out, not all eights are unlucky. McGeorge also ranks #8 in trial advocacy, meaning that this endowment could usher in a new wave of litigators that better represent their clientele.

While the money comes from several donors, the bulk of it comes from Robert and Tracy Eglet. At a time when wealthy folks are using their capital to visit space (even if it is really damn cool), it is refreshing to see people who use their money to reinvest in the institutions that supported them. Given that Robert secured beaucoup money in verdicts and settlements (about $1.5 billion, with a B), the hope is that the folks blessed with these scholarships will do a bit of the same after they add esquire to their names.

Philanthropy is not without its criticisms. In some cases, a generous donation has the benefit of a massive tax cut or one’s name in the paper. But to spite cynicism, I will believe that this was a genuine act of good will, that McGeorge Law’s trial advocacy program will grow in prestige and ranking, and that several legal gamechangers will grace the halls of the school because of the Eglet’s generosity.

Cheers.

Earlier: Law School: Slashing Class Size, Keeping Tuition High
The 20 Law Schools With The Most Unemployed Graduates
Law School Will Slash Faculty By 25 Percent To Free Up Funds For Recruiting Better Students

Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s. Before that, he wrote columns for an online magazine named The Muse Collaborative under the pen name Knehmo. He endured the great state of Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who cannot swim, a published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at [email protected] and by tweet at @WritesForRent.

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