A $4 million donation to the MSU-Detroit College of Law announced Tuesday will help create the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute, what some consider will be the most comprehensive full-time such institute in the nation.
The donation, the single largest in DCL’s history, comes from Michigan practicing trial lawyer and 1979 DCL graduate, Geoffrey Fieger.
“I know this is the biggest donation DCL has received, but that wasn’t the paramount interest,” Fieger said. “What really interests me is the school and the unique opportunity that it offers to law students in the country.”
Fieger is best recognized for running for governor in 1998 and for defending Jack Kevorkian, who is known for his role in assisting suicides.
Final agreements were made about a week ago for the institute, where law students will practice pre-trial work and the examination and cross-examination of witnesses.
Sixteen second-year DCL students were admitted preliminarily this fall. Current students can interview for the program at the end of their first year. Those accepted start the program their second year.
The institute will aim to give students a fresh look at law.
DCL Dean Terence Blackburn said students will now learn about forensic issues through the College of Human Medicine and get public speaking and poise tips from the MSU Department of Theatre.
“Our goal is to have the best trial practice program in the nation, and Mr. Fieger’s support will enable us to reach that goal,” Blackburn said. “This is a further addition to our growth and transformation, which has taken place following the affiliation with MSU.”
Although Fieger has a track record of participating in controversial cases, Blackburn said he’s not concerned about DCL being seen negatively because of the association with Fieger’s name.
“He is controversial because he has represented unpopular people in unpopular cases,” he said. “We try to show students they should represent all people to the best of their ability, regardless of the controversial nature of the case or whether the individual clients are popular.”
Fieger said DCL approached him with the idea for the program months ago. He chose to donate the money after the planning had begun to ensure the program would exist.
“The school is very conservative politically, but I think we’ve come together at least with an understanding about the importance of the trial advocacy program,” he said. “And if I can have an effect on lawyers in the future, that’s a nice testament.”
MSU spokesman Terry Denbow said the new program is important to both the law school and the university.
“The institute will really emphasize bridging the gap between knowledge and skill and between theory and practice,” he said. “This kind of practical experience will serve future students well and will be one of the attractions of DCL.”
Fieger said he was flattered when DCL decided to name the institute after him and commends the law school for taking such a step in judicial education.
“It’s a really thoughtful, creative, compelling, courageous and challenging idea,” Fieger said. “It will help (students) jump so much further over the learning curb when they graduate.”
Clifton Haley, president of the DCL Board of Trustees, said he is pleased to have such a distinguished alumnus helping to fund a program that will provide knowledge of the real-life courtroom. Fieger has won more multimillion dollar verdicts for his clients than any other U.S. attorney.
“I think it’s just wonderful to be recognized by arguably the most prominent trial attorney in the country,” Haley said.
MSU Board of Trustees Chairperson Colleen McNamara said she is grateful for the donation and excited about the added collaboration between the schools.
“The stronger the law school is, the better the potential for both schools to do better things with each other,” she said.
Megan Frye can be reached at fryemega@msu.edu.
