UC Law SF launches the Half-Century Club, honoring alumni 50 years out 

This photo shows the Class of ’76 alumni on the Sky Deck of UC Law SF's Cotchett Law Center.

Class of ’76 alumni gather on the Sky Deck of UC Law SF’s Cotchett Law Center during the inaugural Half-Century Club Luncheon on March 26.

 

  • Class of 1976 alumni returned to UC Law San Francisco on March 26 as inaugural inductees of the College’s new Half-Century Club. 
  • Graduates from the Classes of ’76, ’71, and ’66 attended the luncheon. All alumni who graduated 50 or more years ago are considered members of the club. 
  • Class of ’76 alumni built dynamic careers across the legal profession and are now raising funds for a scholarship to support current and future law students. 

 

UC Law SF alumna and Professor of Practice Toni Young smiles during a conversation with classmates.

Senior Associate Dean Toni Young ’76, who helped make UC Law SF’s Moot Court team rank among the best in the nation, reconnects with former classmates at the Half Century Club luncheon.

Fifty years after graduating, members of the Class of 1976 returned to UC Law San Francisco on March 26 as the inaugural inductees of the College’s new Half-Century Club. 

At a luncheon during the College’s annual Spring Week, dozens of alumni came together for an afternoon of reconnection and reflection. They were joined by members of the Classes of ’71 and ’66 celebrating milestone reunions. All are part of the Half-Century Club, which includes every alum who graduated from UC Law SF, then known as UC Hastings, at least 50 years ago. 

On the fifth floor of the Cotchett Law Center, attendees browsed archived law journals and student newspapers and laughed over then-and-now class photos. They also mingled on the building’s Sky Deck, taking in a sweeping view of San Francisco City Hall and its gilded dome. 

David Faigman speaks with expressive hand gestures during an alumni luncheon event.

Chancellor & Dean David Faigman speaks about the College’s achievements and how philanthropic support helps build on that progress.

“The buildings are very different from when I was a student,” said William Tiffany ’76 of Hollister, Calif., a private practitioner who previously worked as a deputy public defender and deputy district attorney. Like manyalumni, Tiffany had not visited the Cotchett Law Center, completed in 2020, or seen the new 198 McAllister St. building, completed in 2023. 

Chancellor & Dean David Faigman marked the occasion by reflecting on how far the College has come — from the campus expanding and evolving into a cross-disciplinary Academic Village to the rising bar passage rate and stronger employment outcomes for graduates. He also highlighted the College’s $100 million Into the Future campaign; one of the goals of the Campaign is to build the College’s endowment to support students, faculty, and new initiatives. 

John Koeppel speaks during an alumni luncheon event.

John Koeppel ’76 urges former classmates to support the new Class of ’76 Scholarship, noting the success they have achieved since graduation and the growing financial barriers facing today’s law students.

“An endowment gives us the resources to attract great students and great faculty,” he said. 

Class of ’76 leaders Carol Hamilton, John Koeppel and Scott Morris urged classmates to support a new scholarship fund for current and future students. The Class of 1976 Scholarship Fund has raised $30,000 toward its $100,000 goal to establish a permanent endowed scholarship. 

“It’s a great opportunity for us to make investments in the future of the students,” Koeppel said. 

Class of '76 alumni Scott Morris and Carol Hamilton pose during a luncheon event.

Scott Morris ’76 and Carol Hamilton ’76 say they remain committed to staying connected to and supporting the College, emphasizing the essential role a UC Law SF education played in their successful careers.

All three leaders have had fulfilling legal careers: Koeppel as a longtime civil litigator and shareholder at Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley; Morris as a litigator and in-house counsel at venture capital firms and telecom companies; and Hamilton as a public servant, plaintiff’s lawyer, human rights advocate, and UN delegate. 

Their classmates went on to serve as judges, prosecutors, public defenders, class action litigators, Army JAG corps members, mediators, law professors, and more. 

Together, their careers represent five decades of wide-ranging contributions to the legal profession — contributions applauded by their classmates and their alma mater.  

“The Half Century Club recognizes alumni who, after 50 years of distinguished careers, remain deeply connected to their alma mater,” said Chief Advancement Officer Julia Jordan. “We are proud to celebrate graduateswho continue to strengthen and shape our community.”