The University of the Pacific has received a $1 million estate gift from   the late Dan Wilcoxen ’72 to support students at the McGeorge School of Law. 

The longtime McGeorge supporter and member of the Dean’s Cabinet died Sept. 14 at the age of 85.

The gift will support the Anthony M. Kennedy Endowed Fellows Scholarship, which is awarded to JD students who have exceptional academic ability and entrance credentials.

“Dan embodied the very best of McGeorge: excellence, integrity and a deep commitment to service,” said Dean Michael Colatrella. “His generosity has created opportunities that will continue to benefit our students for generations. We are deeply grateful for all he has done for the McGeorge community.”

Wilcoxen has made a lasting impact on the law school over the years. In 2023, he donated a house  to McGeorge, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the Powell Fund. That donation supports theWilcoxen Advocacy Endowment benefiting students in the award-winning Eglet Center for Advocacy & Dispute Resolution, and the Noël Ferris Endowed Scholarship, which assists single, head-of-household law students, particularly women and non-traditional students pursuing careers as trial attorneys.

The 2023 gift helps fund student participation in mock trial, moot court and negotiation competitions, covering travel, competition fees and other related costs. McGeorge’s moot program finished the 2023-24 school year ranked No. 9 in the nation by the Blakely Advocacy Institute at the University of Houston Law Center, and the school’s Trial Advocacy program was ranked No. 16 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in 2025.

His support strengthened the recognition of these advocacy programs and opened doors for countless students to gain real-world experience.

“Dan led with integrity, cared deeply about others and believed in the power of education to change lives,” said President Christopher Callahan. “His impact on McGeorge and our students will be felt for decades to come.”

Early in his career, Wilcoxen worked as a defense lawyer before leaving to open his own practice in 1979 ,   representing injured plaintiffs. He is the founding and senior partner, with fellow McGeorge alumnus William Callaham ’74, of Wilcoxen Callaham, LLP in Sacramento. The firm focuses on personal injury cases. Over the years, Wilcoxen has obtained 80 multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements.

Wilcoxen then became a pioneer in medical lien law and had much success getting liens waived and reduced. He spoke at numerous seminars for the Consumer Attorneys of California, Capitol City Trial Lawyers Association and American Board of Trial Advocates. He also successfully handled an Employee Retirement Income Security Act lien case before the U.S. Supreme Court, three lien cases before the 9^th  U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal (AP style) and three lien cases before the 3^rd  District Court of Appeal.

Wilcoxen was named a “Super Lawyer” for the past 17 years, one of the Top 100 Lawyers in California for the past 5 years and one of the top 25 attorneys in Sacramento.

To learn how to support the Anthony M. Kennedy Endowed Fellows Scholarship, contact Casandra Fernandez at 916.739.7214 or cfernandez@pacific.edu.