LIFE AND THE LAWBY RAY R. GOLDIE ’57Admitted as a special student because I didn’thave an undergraduate degree, <strong>USC</strong> <strong>Law</strong><strong>School</strong> allowed me to commence in the nightschool in a four-year and two summers program. Aswere virtually all first-year students, I was scared, notonly by the complexities anddemands <strong>of</strong> the subjects, but alsobecause I had been out <strong>of</strong> school forseveral years. Although I was elatedthat my first semester grades werehigh, elation soon turned to panicbecause I was certain that my apparentsuccess was a fluke. As a result,I worked even harder and when thesecond semester ended, convincedthat I could do it, I petitioned totransfer to the day program as a fulltimestudent, attending summerschool to catch up and graduatewith my class in three years.<strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong> wasthe richest and mostrewarding experience<strong>of</strong> my life. I“enjoyed good friendshipsand was fulfilledthrough manyachievements. Themost fulfilling eventsincluded when I waspresident <strong>of</strong> my legalfraternity, a meetingwith the presidents<strong>of</strong> the other legalfraternities, whichresulted in a unanimous resolution that neither race,creed or sex should be a criteria for membership in alegal fraternity. Also, in a first for the <strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong>, AssociateJustice Roger Trainor accepted my invitation tospeak at a luncheon meeting <strong>of</strong> members <strong>of</strong> my fraternityand other guests. Other highlights included my serviceas Associated Editor <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Law</strong> Review; myappointment as a teaching assistant, and the agreementto form a partnership with Marcus Kaufman ‘56.Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Richard Wicks had said that when you canappear in any court in the land as easily as getting in andout <strong>of</strong> your car, you may be a litigator. Since litigationwas my goal, after graduation, I followed the suggestion<strong>of</strong> <strong>Dean</strong> Robert Kingsley and joined the Office <strong>of</strong> the<strong>Law</strong> <strong>School</strong> was the richest and mostrewarding experience <strong>of</strong> my life. Ienjoyed good friendships and was fulfilledthrough many achievements.California Attorney General as a student legal assistant.Forty-one deputies provided legal services from Fresnoto the Mexican Border. Student legal assistantsresearched and drafted appellate briefs, but could notsign the briefs or make court appearances until admittedto practice. I flew to San Franciscoto be admitted to the bar by theSupreme Court on Friday. I returnedto Los Angeles on Monday to gobefore the Supreme Court to argue adeath penalty case, the brief forwhich I had written. It was my firstcourt appearance.After a year in the AttorneyGeneral’s Office, considering myeducation completed, the <strong>Law</strong>Offices <strong>of</strong> Goldie & Kaufmanopened in San Bernardino in 1958.We handled trial matters in manyareas <strong>of</strong> law, starting with mydefending an allegedescapee from a StatePenitentiary. Thejury trial resulted ina not guilty verdictand much press. Asa result, we weresoon inundated withcriminal matters. Ithen urged the newsreporter to look intoour civil cases, hopingthat he woulddiscover somethingnewsworthy. We werenot enchanted with criminal law. Our civil practicefinally developed, was successful, and continued to grow.I retired from the stress <strong>of</strong> litigation practice inDecember 1986, moved my <strong>of</strong>fice to the Palm Springsarea and concentrated on business entities, transactions,and estate planning, probate and trust law. For the firsttime in about 40 years I took and passed a bar examinationfor certification as a specialist in estate planning,probate and trust law given by the State Bar <strong>of</strong> CaliforniaBoard <strong>of</strong> Legal Specialization.While I still handle business entities and transactions,my emphasis is now on estate planning, probateand trust law. It continues to be an exciting, fulfilling,and interesting life in the law for me.“<strong>USC</strong> LAW • SPRING 200076
THE GREATNESS OF A LAW SCHOOL IS IN PART DEPENDENTON ITS ABILITY TO “BIND SUCCESSFUL GRADUATESTO THE SCHOOL BY KEEPING THEM ALIVE TO ITS GROWTHAND ITS PROBLEMS. . . TO AWAKEN AND DEVELOP. . .THE GROWTH OF LEGAL EDUCATION.”Louis B. Brandeis to Felix Frankfurter – 1922
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