More than $1 million will help open the door to a McGeorge School of Law education for students who might otherwise struggle to afford it, thanks to an estate gift from double Tiger Mark Drobny ’80, ’81.

Drobny’s gift to the law school will establish two scholarships: one for incoming first-year JD students and another for continuing students interested in estate planning.

“This is an extremely generous and meaningful gift that will allow McGeorge students to fully immerse themselves in their studies instead of worrying about how they’re going to pay for law school,” said Michael T. Colatrella Jr., dean of McGeorge School of Law.

The Mark S. Drobny 1L Incoming Students scholarship will be used to support first-year JD students at McGeorge with financial need. The Mark S. Drobny Endowed scholarship will be awarded to continuing students who want to practice in the areas of trust, estate, probate and estate administration.  

The gift was announced at a Sacramento Estate Planning Council Forum held on University of the Pacific’s Sacramento Campus. Drobny has been a member of the Sacramento Estate Planning Council since 1982. He previously served as a member of their Board of Directors for eight years and as president from 1992-93.

“Mark’s generosity reflects the very best of the Pacific spirit,” said President Christopher Callahan. “His commitment to supporting students demonstrates the profound impact our alumni can have on future generations. This gift will open doors, create opportunities and help ensure that talented students can pursue a legal education at McGeorge for years to come.”

For Drobny, the gift is a way to pay forward the help he received as a student.

“I would not have made it through college or law school without scholarships,” Drobny said. “I chose to give back to McGeorge because I think it’s important that, when life’s been good to you, you need to give back while you’re still alive and from your estate when you die.” 

A bequest can be a simple way to leave a lasting legacy at Pacific. By including Pacific in a will or trust, donors can support future generations of students and direct their gift to the area that matters most to them.

Drobny started the Drobny Rosenthal Law Offices PC firm in 1989 and has since expanded into seven cities across California. With over 45 years of experience, Drobny estimates he’s written about 25,000 estate plans and has represented executives from leading companies, such as Apple, Gap, Tesla, BioMarin, Bill.com and Target. Over his career, he has given 1,500 presentations on estate planning. 

He also has served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Sacramento Superior Court’s Probate Division for over 20 years.

“Some of the most interesting stories come up when you look at what people do in planning their estate,” he said. He’s frequently on estates with clients who left millions of dollars to their pets, earning the nickname, “godfather of pet trusts.”

Drobny earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1980 and a Master of Laws in Taxation in 1981 from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law after graduating from the University of Iowa in 1977.

To learn more about making a planned gift to the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, contact Director of Development Quentin Graeber at 916.739.7229 or qgraeber@pacific.edu.