The Cause - The Gary Walker Memorial Scholarship Fund

Gary Walker Memorial Scholarship

The Gary Walker Memorial Scholarship is designed to advance the future of the defense and corporate bar by providing tuition reimbursement to a deserving IADC Trial Academy student. The scholarship is named for a long-time IADC member who was the 2001 Trial Academy Director, but died shortly before the Academy was to begin. Gary T. Walker was a trial lawyer with more than 30 years experience in a broad range of litigation. He graduated from Stanford University in 1964 and took his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1969.

Mr. Walker was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates. He served IADC as chair of the Toxic and Hazardous Substances Litigation Committee and served the Defense Research Institute as chair of its Products Liability Committee and Law Institute and on its Board of Directors. He was a sustaining member of the Products Liability Advisory Council and a former member of the Senior Advisory Panel to the Association for California Tort Reform. He was past president of the San Francisco Defense Seminar Association and was included in The International Who's Who of Products Liability Attorneys. Mr. Walker lectured before professional and industry groups and taught on the faculties of the IADC Trial Academy, the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, the Hastings College of Advocacy, and the Northern California Federal Practice Institute. Mr. Walker wrote numerous articles and chapters on trial practice, products liability, and insurance coverage.

Beyond his professional accolades, Mr. Walker set extraordinarily high standards for professionalism, leadership and personal values.

Attorneys wishing to apply for this scholarship must meet the following criteria:

• Have some level of actual trial experience
• Been in trial practice for between 2 and 10 years
• Demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of the defense trial bar

The Gary Walker Fund is primarily intended to provide assistance to minority and women students, as well as those demonstrating financial need. The scholarship includes the registration fee of $3,100 to attend the Trial Academy in July. The winner is responsible for airfare and the $1,300 housing and meal expense at Stanford Law School.

To learn more about the Trial Academy please visit; http://www.iadclaw.org/trialacademy.cfm

Announcing Trip

Dear Friends

When I turned 30 my wife had a big party for me. I don’t remember a lot. I do remember something about Jack Daniels and people pleading for forgiveness. When I turned 40 my wife had a big party. I don’t remember much. I do remember something about tequila, and our neighbor, the flight attendant asking what I wanted for my birthday.

This summer I turn 50. This time I’ve asked for no parties. My memory is poor naturally now. This time I hope to do something a little more productive. In 2005 I had the good fortune to be on the Faculty of the IADC Trial Academy at Stanford Law School. It was a wonderful experience for students and faculty. Unfortunately it is very expensive to attend, making it difficult for minority students to participate. In order for our profession to be as strong and healthy as possible we have to provide opportunities to assure that we are inclusive. Although our faculty was very diverse, the same could not be said about the student body.

There is now an initiative to create an endowment to fund the Gary Walker Scholarship Fund. I was surprised to learn that the Fund does not have enough money to self-sustain an annual scholarship for the Trial Academy.

In order to raise money and awareness for this very worthwhile fund, instead of another mind-bending to party to commemorate the passing of another decade, this summer I’m going to bike from my home in Pittsburgh, Pa. to Washington D.C., a distance of approximately 300 miles. Almost the entire trip will be on Rail Trails.

Please join me in this endeavor by making a pledge or donation to the IADC Foundation. On your check notation please write “Rosenberg DC Bike Trip.” Feel free to pledge an amount per mile, or a donation of any amount. If you want to join me for all or part of the trip, I would love to have the company.