Jennifer ’87 and Bob Hagle ’87 explore UC Law San Francisco’s revitalized campus, pausing in the 198 McAllister St. lobby that celebrates their support for the College and its mission of preparing future lawyers to excel as professionals and advance the rule of law.
Jennifer ’87 and Bob Hagle ’87 return to a transformed campus featuring modern learning spaces and new student housing.
The Hagles trace their success as attorneys to the strong legal foundation they built studying at UC Law San Francisco.
Their significant gift to the College, recognized with a campus space named in their honor, advances key priorities in academics, student outcomes, and innovation.
A recent visit to campus brought Jennifer ’87 and Bob Hagle ’87 back to where their partnership began. The couple met as first-year students before embarking on distinguished careers: Bob as a partner and co-chair of the banking and finance group at Rutan & Tucker LLP, and Jennifer as a nationally recognized corporate restructuring partner at Sidley Austin and member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
The Hagles made a significant gift to UC Law San Francisco in 2023, advancing its Into Future Campaign to support student success, faculty excellence, and innovative initiatives. During a tour of the College’s moderncampus in December, they visited the 198 McAllister St. building lobby named in their honor.
In the conversation below, the Hagles reflect on their time as students, what inspires their philanthropy, and why they believe UC Law SF’s future is bright.
The Hagles, seen here on the Sky Deck of the Cotchett Law Center, describe the transformation of UC Law SF’s campus as “mind-blowing.”
What stands out most from your time as law students?
One thing that stands out the most was the opportunity to learn and study in the heart of San Francisco. Having both grown up across the Golden Gate Bridge (in Marin and Sonoma Counties), “The City” stood out as an iconic location. The College’s proximity to the California Supreme Court and other courthouses, along with cultural and commercial landmarks such as the San Francisco Opera House and Union Square, created a rich learning environment. A true highlight for each of us was our externship with the California Supreme Court located literally across the street from the law school.
What was it like to see the new campus, and how did it compare with your experience as students?
Touring the new campus with Dean Faigman was mind-blowing! The changes are significant, yet care was taken to preserve opportunities for students to gather, whether socially or academically, and create community. “The Beach” has definitely been upgraded, but the goal is the same — to facilitate students creating connections that will last a professional (and personal) lifetime. Incorporation of the latest technology is also a big change from our era. We were extremely impressed by the new student housing — smart, clean, efficient, and affordably priced for a high-cost area. We see the availability of good housing as a key factor in the law school’s ability to attract and retain the best legal talent. Frankly, it’s difficult to overstate the amazing changes to the campus since we were there in the ’80s.
What inspired your gift to UC Law SF, and what impact do you hope it will have?
With Jennifer having served on the Board of Trustees for several years under Dean Faigman’s leadership, we have been inspired by the school’s progress in elevating the quality of students attending UC Law SF, the bar passage rate, and the post-graduate employment statistics. We’ve also been impressed by the school upgrading the physical campus and more meaningfully engaging alumni. These considerations, along with acknowledging how key the school was to our own career success, led us to make a meaningful gift to the school during this transformational period.
The Hagles cite Chancellor & Dean David Faigman’s leadership, a top-rated clinical program, and strong outcomes for graduates among the factors that inspired them to support the College philanthropically.
What does it mean to you to have a named space on campus that will support students for generations?
We were so surprised and honored by both the space and the naming signage! It means a lot to know that our name will be imprinted in a location where so many future students will pass through—especially given that our future together began at the law school.
What excites you most about UC Law SF’s future?
The future is bright for UC Law SF — with a beautiful new campus, incredible housing opportunities, and a best-in-class faculty located in the heart of an incomparable city, we are thrilled to play even a small part in the incredible momentum that Dean Faigman and his team have built to take us into the law school’s next chapter. There are so many positive and exciting things happening on so many fronts, we firmly believe that the best is yet to come for UC SF Law.
What would you say to alumni or friends who are considering supporting UC Law SF?
For our friends and alumni who attended UC Law SF back in the ’80s, we would urge you to take a look at what has been happening over the last ten years. Significant progress has been made in all key areas, including bar passage and employment rate statistics, clinical opportunities, retention of top students, upgrading the campus, providing housing — the list goes on. The momentum is real — and if you, like us, believe that UC Law SF played a significant role in the success of your career, now is the time to jump in and show your support for future students!