Summary: Drexel university school of law changes its name following a historic $50 million donation by noted trial lawyer Thomas R. Kline.
Drexel University School of Law announced on Wednesday that the name of the school has been changed to Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, after the school received a historic donation of $50 million from the trial lawyer. University President John A. Fry said the gift will transform legal education at Drexel University for generations to come. The gift is the largest single gift in the history of the university.
Fry said, “I’m proud that our law school will be forever associated with Tom Kline. His commitment to Drexel will carry great significance for lawyers across America.”
He added further, “This milestone reflects the outstanding and tireless work of the law faculty and professional staff, led by Founding Dean Roger Dennis, over the school’s eight-year history, and Tom’s association with the law school from its founding.”
Kline, who is a noted trial lawyer, has always championed the cause of trial advocacy training among law students. He is the founding partner of the law firm Kline & Specter and has spent more than 35 years representing catastrophically injured persons.
The law school said many groundbreaking cases led by client resulted in corporate, institutional and governmental changes in the civil justice system, besides resulting in compensation for his clients.
Kline served four U.S. senators over two decades and chaired the Federal Judicial Nominating Commission for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for more than a decade. He is a trustee of Drexel University and chair of the advisory board for Drexel’s school of law.
As an integral part of the law school, Kline said, “We aspire to swiftly establish our law school as a force, especially in the area of trial advocacy, and to gain recognition nationwide … I am especially excited about the establishment of a new trial advocacy institute, unique in American law school education.”