Parker White, ‘80, credits his passion for trial advocacy to the University of Pacific McGeorge School of Law and continues to demonstrate dedication to legal education and philanthropy.
White’s passion for politics led him to McGeorge School of Law, where he excelled in mock trial competitions and discovered his passion for trial work.
After graduating with a Juris Doctor degree, he joined Friedman, Collard & Poswall in 1984, and handled numerous medical malpractice cases, achieving significant settlements. He became a partner in the firm in three short years by 1987. In 1993, he co-founded Poswall & White, where he continued his legal career and also ventured into teaching trial advocacy at Stanford University Law School and University of San Francisco Law School.
White’s dedication to legal education and professionalism earned him recognition from the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He received awards for Civility and Trial Lawyer of the Year. Notably, he was honored as a Northern California Super Lawyer for plaintiff Medical Malpractice.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, White remains dedicated to his alma mater, McGeorge School of Law, exemplified by his philanthropic endeavors such as endowing the Noël M. Ferris Professor of Trial Skills and establishing a scholarship in honor of his late wife, Noël M. Ferris, ‘79, an esteemed McGeorge alumna and previous Regent to the University of the Pacific. White and Ferris were both stars of the mock trial team while they were students at McGeorge. The gift continues a tradition they began jointly when they established the five-year Ferris-White Advocacy Prize, awarded to the year’s top student in trial advocacy courses and activities.
In 2020, McGeorge School of Law paid tribute to Noël M. Ferris by naming its courthouse in her honor, a testament to the enduring impact of Ferris’ and White’s contributions to legal education and the law industry.
Throughout 2024, the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law will celebrate members of its vast alumni network in honor of the school’s 100-year anniversary. This post is part of a series highlighting 100 exceptional McGeorge School of Law alumni.
Stay tuned for more blog posts as we celebrate the law school’s centennial anniversary.