A Debate Team Ace Becomes an Award-Winning Trial Lawyer: Speech Communication Alum John Dolan Honored With Laurence H. Tribe Award
When Lucy Keele heard John Dolan debate for the first time, she knew he was going to be one of the best.
“All of us are born with a quotient of critical thinking, but those who come with a big dose of it and happen to be loquacious are natural-born debaters,” said Keele, a Cal State Fullerton professor emeritus of speech communication. “John was one of the four most innately talented debaters I ever had the privilege to coach.”
John Dolan ’71 (B.A. speech communication)
In his first year on CSUF’s debate team, Dolan qualified for the Novice National Debate Tournament and placed third in the country. During his junior and senior years, Dolan qualified for the National Debate Tournament, where he and his partner, Patty Peoples ’73 (B.A. history), were named one of the best teams in the nation. Dolan was the 10th speaker in the nation out of 104 debaters.
After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in speech communication in 1971, Dolan attended Western State University College of Law, built a successful private practice and founded the only law school in Riverside County. He has tried more than 330 cases and has been featured in several episodes of the CBS show, “48 Hours,” for his legal expertise.
For his many achievements, Dolan was honored with the 2024 Laurence H. Tribe Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes a National Debate Tournament alum who has used their debate training to make significant contributions to their profession, to society or to humanity. The award is named in honor of the Harvard Law School professor who is considered one the foremost scholars on American Constitutional Law.
Putting the Debate Team on the Map
Dolan thought he would attend a community college like most of his friends, but a high school English teacher encouraged him to apply to Cal State Fullerton.
Initially overwhelmed by the idea of attending a four-year university, Dolan soon got involved in both the debate team and a campus fraternity. He also held several jobs, including driving the monorail at Disneyland and selling tickets at Angel Stadium.
The decision to join the debate team proved to be impactful for Dolan, who found himself competing at Ivy League institutions like Harvard and Dartmouth.
“Because of John and a few extremely talented debaters, people began to notice our university and invite us to tournaments,” recalled Keele. “We, in large measure, put Fullerton on the national map.”
Today, CSUF’s Department of Human Communication Studies continues to boast one of the top debate programs in the country, with students attending national and international competitions each year.
“I’m very grateful for all the experience I had at Cal State Fullerton, especially on the debate team, because it really set me up for my career,” said Dolan.
Building a Law School
Eager to share his passion for trial law and debating, Dolan and his wife, Irene Garcia Dolan, founded the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law in 2012. Now in its 12th year, 38 students have graduated from the school and many practice law in the Coachella Valley.
Financed entirely by Dolan and his practice, Dolan Law Offices, the $5 million law school features three state-of-the-art courtrooms and a conference room. The trial courtroom is named in honor of another CSUF alum and fellow debate team member, Terry Giles ’70 (B.A. speech communication).
“You really don’t get an education about trial work in law school. You might have one class at the end of your law school career,” explained Dolan, who personally teaches classes and is involved with all aspects of the school. “And if you want to be a courtroom lawyer, there are many skills you need to learn beyond books.”
“I cannot emphasize enough how remarkable it is that John and Irene’s vision has come to reality,” added Keele. “He established a law school in an area where there was none, and people who never dreamed they would get to go to law school now have that opportunity.”