From the moment that I met Robert and Tracy, I knew they were special people. As Robert walked onto the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law campus, his first visit since he graduated in 1988, I could feel his positive energy and his drive to make a difference for those less fortunate. That was the start of a five-year friendship and journey that culminated in a gift that will change the lives of law students for years to come. As the consummate plaintiff’s attorney, Robert and Tracy represent clients who have been the victim of tragic circumstances that are not of their making. Their cases span from the Hepatitis C Outbreak to the recent MGM Grand Shooting. The results of their work are that laws are changed, healthcare practices are revisited, and ultimately lives are saved. Their gift to the law school will enable the students at McGeorge School of Law to do the same.
Robert and Tracy are a testament to philanthropy. They give of their time, talent, and treasure. Robert speaks on the “Death of the American Trial Lawyer’” and shares that the Seventh Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is not being upheld. Special interest groups are taking away the public’s right to a true jury of their peers, which is a right that is outlined in the U.S. Constitution. In addition to their busy legal practice, they travel around the country speaking on this topic. They are also generous with the space their law office, Eglet Adams, opening it up to UNLV Boyd School of Law as well as to the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, to host alumni events and do trainings for law students. They give of their treasure by providing scholarships at their local law school and through their generous transformational gift to McGeorge School of Law, which will support our Trial Advocacy Program as well as create a McGeorge scholarship for First-Generation Law Students and Students of Color.
The smiles on their faces after we announced the gift on October 12 is what development professionals live for. The act of giving should be an enjoyable experience for all parties. It is more about the donors than it is about the institution. The difference that donors make cannot be understated. I, for one, will be indebted to the Eglets for the difference they are making for our students and their investment in McGeorge School of Law. I am more than grateful for all that they stand for and hope they will be a model for others to follow in the future.