RALEIGH — With a gift exceeding $8 million dollars, prominent Raleigh attorney G. Eugene “Gene” Boyce has cemented the future success of student advocates at Campbell Law School. Boyce’s gift — a combination of cash and property — establishes The G. Eugene Boyce Center of Advocacy at the law school’s downtown Raleigh campus.
Boyce’s contribution marks the biggest-ever gift to Campbell Law and one of the largest in Campbell University history.
“What a tremendous day for Campbell Law School and the university at large,” said Campbell Law Dean J. Rich Leonard. “Our advocacy program has a rich tradition of success, and Gene’s gift ensures that this will only continue. His investment in Campbell Law will benefit countless students, and will have a significant positive impact on citizens in the Raleigh community and beyond.”
“I am thankful that my and Pat’s efforts make us able to support the good work of Dean Rich Leonard and Campbell Law students,” said Boyce, on behalf of he and his wife, Pat. “Campbell Law has an outstanding reputation in Raleigh, in the North Carolina legal community and beyond. We hope our gift will help guide young professionals to rigorously advocate liberty and justice for all people.”
“Campbell Law School has provided tremendous service to the citizens of North Carolina for nearly 40 years,” said Campbell University President Dr. J. Bradley Creed. “During that time we have provided an opportunity for legal education to thousands of individuals who have in turn rendered quality legal and community service across North Carolina and beyond. This new gift from Gene Boyce is the largest in the history of our law school and is transformational to the education program offered by Campbell. We are deeply grateful for this incredible investment in the future of our students and the North Carolina legal community.”
The G. Eugene Boyce Center of Advocacy will serve as the home of Campbell Law’s nationally competitive advocacy program. Comprised of three courtrooms and a suite of adjoining offices previously occupied by the North Carolina Business Court, The Boyce Center houses Campbell Law’s two primary advocacy professors, adjunct faculty, and staff. The courtrooms within The Boyce Center will be updated with state-of-the-art technology in evidence presentation. The Boyce Center’s expanded space will allow Campbell Law to host interschool competitions, as well as college and high school competitions as consistent with the institution’s curricular needs. Boyce will have Practitioner in Residence status at the law school and office space in the Boyce Center.
The Boyce Center’s advanced courtroom technology provides space for training programs to practicing lawyers on how to use courtroom technologies during trials. Campbell Law’s reputation, coupled with The Boyce Center’s space and technology, provides a platform to create and host any number of innovative CLE programs. When available, The Boyce Center can serve as a location for actual hearings and trials in state and federal court proceedings.
The namesake of The Boyce Center is an accomplished attorney who currently serves as senior counsel at Nexsen Pruet, focusing primarily in the areas of class action law, litigation, commercial litigation and constitutional law. Throughout his career, Boyce has participated as defendant and plaintiff attorney in countless jury trials and more than 142 appellate proceedings in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He has also examined the conduct of public officials at the highest federal and state levels.
One of Boyce’s signature achievements includes serving as assistant chief counsel to the Watergate Committee, working alongside Senator Sam J. Ervin. Boyce served as the lead investigator in the discovery of President Nixon’s White House taping system.
Under the guidance of Campbell Law Director of Advocacy & Assistant Professor Dan Tilly, the advocacy program has continued to excel at the national level. Campbell Law student advocates have won the prestigious South Texas Mock Trial Challenge national championship twice in the last three years, as well as numerous runners-up and final four placements, and regional competition titles. Students have also collected a bevy of individual accolades, including two top-four showings at the Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition since 2013.
Campbell Law receives its largest gift ever to establish G. Eugene Boyce Center of Advocacy