Annual Report 2010-11 - Hastings College of the Law

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a grateful alum creates the
Jill Sant Johnson Scholarship
Though Brian Johnson ’80 graduated from UC Hastings
more than 30 years ago, the accomplished attorney—who
heads the litigation department of Strong & Hanni in
Salt Lake City—can still relate to today’s law students.
From the profound impact that professors can have on a
student’s life to the way the first year, as Johnson puts
it, “forever burns itself into your brain,” many things
haven’t changed.
But one salient difference between then and now is
the cost of a legal education. While on sabbatical from
practicing law, Johnson joined the law faculties of the
University of Oklahoma and the University of Tulsa. As
a professor, he saw firsthand the financial struggles that
many law students face today.
“Many students incurred almost crushing debt to pursue
their dreams,” says Johnson. “I recollected how relatively
inexpensive—and incredibly rewarding—my education
at Hastings was. So I decided to help.”
In September 2010, Johnson pledged a $100,000 gift
to UC Hastings to establish the Jill Sant Johnson
Scholarship. Johnson named the scholarship after Jill
Sant Johnson, whose hard work and support in large
part made his graduation from law school possible.
“Law school is competitive enough without outside
distractions,” Johnson says. “Here’s hoping that some
students’ burdens are eased a little.”