Joe Jamail Donates $1 Million to UT Law School
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin School of Law Dean Bill Powers announced today that Joe Jamail, famed Houston trial lawyer and UT Law alumnus, has presented the Law School with a check for $1 million, to be used at the dean's discretion in support of the Law School's academic mission.
Jamail, Class of 1952, announced the gift in response to State budget cutbacks. It reflects his desire to help maintain UT Law's position as one of the nation's premier centers of legal education. "The University of Texas and our University of Texas Law School are a very critical part of my success and a large part of Lee and my life. It is an honor and a pleasure to be able to help one of the finest educational institutions on the earth," Mr. Jamail said. He continued, "Lee and I are merely giving back money - you who teach and administer education here give your lives to it. We are indebted to all of you."
This is not the first time that Jamail has come to the aid of his University and Law School. Jamail and his wife, Lee, are longtime and generous benefactors of The University of Texas. The Jamails' philanthropy extends across the campus — from Men's and Women's Athletics to the Colleges of Communication, Education, Fine Arts, Liberal Arts, and Natural Sciences, Nursing, and Law.
Jamail is well-known for his victory in Pennzoil v. Texaco, where he won the largest lawsuit in history, with an $11 billion verdict. He has served as lead counsel in over 200 personal injury cases where recovery was over $1 million, and he has amassed a total of more than $13 billion in verdicts and settlements for his clients.
Named the "King of Torts" by both Time and Newsweek and "Trial Lawyer of the Century" by Texas Monthly and the California Trial Lawyers Association, Jamail has devoted his life to defending the defenseless and representing those who otherwise would have no voice in our legal system.
In accepting the gift, Dean Powers said, "Joe Jamail is simply the best trial lawyer in the world. And, he and Lee are UT's very best friends. I can't thank them enough for their support and generosity."