By Anne Marie Gattari
Michigan State University College of Law recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute (TPI), honoring a quarter century of immersive, skills-based legal education and the enduring impact of alumnus Geoffrey N. Fieger.
More than 100 students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered to commemorate the milestone and recognize Fieger’s transformative $4 million gift, which established the Institute in 2001.
At the time, Fieger said his vision was to create a program devoted to “the art of advocacy,” training law students to become fearless trial lawyers prepared to take on powerful institutions on behalf of “the forgotten and the damned.”
As part of the celebration, Fieger, a member of the Class of 1979, was presented with a custom commemorative plaque featuring an oversized brass “F” salvaged from the original Detroit College of Law, symbolizing both legacy and continuity.
The DCL building, near Grand Circus Park, was demolished in mid-2000s, following the law school’s move to East Lansing.
“TPI bears the name of one of our most distinguished alumni,” said Dean Michael Sant’Ambrogio. “Geoffrey Fieger is a nationally recognized trial attorney – and a fierce champion of plaintiffs’ rights and civil justice.
“He believes trial lawyers are called to speak for those whose voices might otherwise go unheard—and that the art of advocacy must be preserved. A look around this room confirms that the TPI is fulfilling that promise.”
Former MSU Law adjunct professor John Pirich created the curriculum for TPI and served as its inaugural director. At the time, he was co-chair of Honigman’s Appellate Advocacy Practice Group.
“From the beginning, the Trial Practice Institute was designed to immerse students in the work of real trial lawyers,” Pirich said. “Twenty‑five years later, that founding commitment continues to define the Institute.”
Over the past 25 years, TPI has become a cornerstone of MSU Law’s experiential curriculum. Students in the selective, two-year program engage in rigorous, practice-based training—working with real legal documents, developing case strategy, and completing both a full civil and criminal trial before graduation.
The program draws experienced judges and practitioners from across Michigan to teach as adjunct professors and mentor students in every phase of litigation, from pretrial preparation to jury presentation.
TPI Director Veronica Valentine McNally emphasized how forward-looking Fieger’s original investment was.
“Twenty-five years ago, when legal education was still largely theoretical, Geoffrey Fieger made a commitment to experiential learning that is now the hallmark of modern legal training,” McNally said. “Our students don’t just study the law—they practice it, using the same materials and approaches they will use in real courtrooms.”
The evening’s featured speaker, James Harrington, managing partner of Fieger Law, reflected on Fieger’s legacy as one of the nation’s most formidable trial lawyers. He described Fieger as “fearless and relentless,” known for taking on difficult cases and advocating for underrepresented clients.
“He didn’t just take the easy wins—he took the tough cases,” Harrington said. “He taught us to find the story, make it clear, and connect it to common sense. His courage to stand up—and sometimes stand-alone—is the lesson for every student here.”
Fieger’s influence on the profession extends well beyond the courtroom. His career has included high-profile civil rights and medical malpractice cases across the country, earning record-setting verdicts and a national reputation for uncompromising advocacy.
In recent years, Fieger has faced publicly reported health challenges, making the anniversary celebration a particularly meaningful opportunity for the MSU Law community to recognize his contributions and enduring legacy.
Looking ahead, Sant’Ambrogio said the Institute will continue to evolve alongside the legal profession while remaining grounded in its founding principles.
“The venues and technologies may change, but the essentials do not—persuasive advocacy, ethical judgment, and disciplined preparation,” he said. “If the first 25 years proved that experiential legal education belongs at the center of a law school, the next 25 will be about expanding its reach and deepening its impact.”
For alumni and students alike, the message of the evening was clear: the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute is not only a program, but a training ground—and a legacy—that continues to shape the next generation of trial lawyers.