LAWYERS ARE LEADERS. CHANGE AGENTS. VITAL TO A FUNCTIONING AND JUST SOCIETY. ARE YOU READY FOR THE CHALLENGE? At the West Virginia University College of Law we are passionate about leadership. We understand the importance of service. And of excelling in all you do. We’re ready to teach you what you need to know. We will prepare you to succeed in a complex world. So get ready to lead the way.
KATHERINE WILSON Class of 2014 Katherine is director of Global Regulatory Affairs policy at Mylan, Inc., where she works to shape policy initiatives affecting the development and approval of the firm’s portfolio of medicines around the world. She previously worked for the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. She was also a summer clerk for the Honorable Eugene B. Strassburger of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. “The foundation and skill set I acquired at WVU Law were instrumental in shaping the attorney I am today. In the Immigration Law Clinic, I learned how to work with clients, representing individuals in hearings in Philadelphia and helping to reunite clients with their loved ones. I fell in love with oral advocacy, arguing nuanced points of international law in the top round of the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Most importantly, I learned how to critically assess legal issues across jurisdictions.”
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JUSTICE, ETHICS AND EXPERTISE.
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We prepare 21st-century lawyers and leaders to serve the public, government and business. Our graduates are practice-ready on the day they graduate. Our vibrant culture of excellence fosters diversity and respect, creating a balanced and supportive academic community within one of the nation’s leading public research universities.
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THE WVU LAW EXPERIENCE. Our graduates excel. After building the essential foundation of core legal knowledge in your first year, you will discover and develop interests through specialized courses in your second and third years. Your classroom knowledge will be enhanced by actual experience.
law.wvu.edu/academics
What You’ll Learn
After your first year, you will complete Appellate Advocacy (preparing an appellate brief and arguing in front of a panel of local attorneys), a research seminar, a professional responsibility course and a perspective course. Research seminars cover topics from environmental law and healthcare regulations to gender and the law and constitutional litigation. Perspective courses connect your studies to the traditions of the liberal arts (humanities, social sciences, natural sciences). You also will fulfill a capstone requirement such as Trial Advocacy, clinical law practice, a federal judicial externship or Business Transactions Drafting practicum.
Hands-on Experiences
You can enhance your training with hands-on experiences in a law clinic (we have nine), engaging in moot court, delving into research, studying abroad, serving in a judicial externship or working on the West Virginia Law Review (the fourth-oldest in the U.S.). You will be prepared to understand your future clients and work environment and ready to provide clinical legal services.
Focused J.D. Concentrations
A concentration is a course of study that enables you to develop skills and competency in a particular area of the law. It’s a signal to employers that you have placed an emphasis — and strong professional interest — in a certain legal field. To earn a concentration, you must complete a set of core courses followed by a number of relevant electives. We offer four concentrations: Energy and Sustainable Development Law Labor and Employment Law Public Interest Law International Law
Paige Diggs ’17 5
Susan Waldie ’16 and Dave Fryson ’16
Distinctive Dual Degrees
A cross-disciplinary law degree means great professional and networking opportunities and is a valuable career advantage. At WVU, you can complete a dual degree in less time than if you pursued both degrees independently. We offer three dual degrees: J.D./Online MBA: usually completed in three years J.D./Master’s in Public Administration (J.D./M.P.A.): usually completed in four years J.D./LL.M. in Energy and Sustainable Development Law
Pioneering Postgraduate Law Degrees
A postgraduate law degree, known as a Master of Laws (LL.M.), is one way J.D. graduates can continue their education and enhance their careers. The Energy and Sustainable Development LL.M. educates the next generation of lawyers who will help shape the future of energy and environmental law. West Virginia is a leading energy state, so there’s no better place to pursue an energy LL.M. WVU is a pioneer in forensic science, and the Forensic Justice LL.M. is the first of its kind in the nation. It is designed for new and practicing attorneys in the criminal justice system whose work hinges on forensic evidence. Both LL.M. degrees are offered online and in a traditional classroom setting.
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YOUR GUIDES. Our distinguished faculty are the backbone of WVU Law. You’ll learn from a diverse group of accomplished attorneys and practitioners, outstanding teachers and scholars and well-connected mentors. They are respected leaders in legal education who share a common mission: preparing competent and ethical lawyers for a wide range of careers and service to the citizens and communities of West Virginia, the nation and the world.
law.wvu.edu/faculty-staff
Valarie Blake Professor Valarie Blake joined the WVU Law faculty in fall 2015 to teach issues related to health care law. Her scholarship includes how increasing state and federal regulation of health care financing and delivery will impact chronic disease, health insurance and professionalism in medicine. Before teaching, Professor Blake served as an ethics senior research associate for the American Medical Association (AMA) and was involved in efforts related to the AMA’s Code of Medical Ethics. She has also worked at the Cleveland Clinic providing bedside ethics consultation, research teaching and service in the areas of law, ethics and professionalism. Professor Blake earned her J.D. and bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She also earned a master’s degree in medical ethics from Case Western Reserve University. COURSES TAUGHT: Health Care Law, Health Care Fraud and Abuse, Comparative Health Law and Ethics, Science and the Law
Patrick McGinley One of the nation's leading environmental lawyers, Professor Patrick McGinley has litigated before administrative tribunals and state and federal trial and appellate courts. His expertise has taken him around the world, and he has taught at the University of Oregon, Indiana University and in the Ukraine. In 2016, he received the Svitlana Kravchenko Environmental Rights Award in recognition of his lifelong "work as a legal scholar, teacher and public interest environmental litigator." At home and abroad, he is a sought-after expert on the coal mining industry. He was a founder of the Energy and Mineral Law Foundation, and has published numerous articles relating to environmental law, natural resources, access to public information and administrative law. Professor McGinley earned his J.D. from Duke University and his bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College. COURSES TAUGHT: Administrative Law, Appellate Advocacy, Environmental Protection Law, Environmental Justice, Land Use Planning
Vincent Cardi Professor Cardi has been teaching the law for more than 45 years and brings that experience and deep passion to the classroom. His teaching experience also includes Boston University, Wake Forest University and Ohio State University. Widely published, Professor Cardi has also been a research fellow at Oxford University. Since 2013, he has been a member of the West Virginia State Election Commission. He also serves on the prestigious Uniform Law Commission that drafts legislation for the states to consider and enact. One such law under consideration was written with the help of a former WVU Law student. In 2016, Professor Cardi was elected to The American Law Institute, a select, nonpartisan organization that produces scholarly work to clarify, modernize and improve the law. Professor Cardi earned his LL.M. from Harvard University, and his J.D. and bachelor’s degree from Ohio State. COURSES TAUGHT: Bankruptcy, Commercial Law, Contracts, Debtors’ and Creditors’ Rights, Legal Drafting, Sales and Secured Transactions 7
LEARNING LEADERSHIP The WVU Law faculty includes David C. Hardesty, president emeritus of West Virginia University, Rhodes Scholar and experienced attorney. He developed the popular Lawyers as Leaders class. Professor Hardesty doesn’t just give theoretical instruction in leadership, he shares his experiences and own brand of leadership. The course helps you develop effective leadership skills. Lawyers lead private practice firms, public interest law organizations, government and corporate law departments, law schools and reform movements.
WVU Law professors will challenge your assumptions, demand well-reasoned positions and insist that you achieve more than you ever imagined.
John Taylor, the Jackson Kelly Professor of Law 8
SUPPORT. WVU Law supports your every step — from the time you arrive on Law School Hill until you graduate into a successful career.
law.wvu.edu/academics/ academic-excellence-center law.wvu.edu/lrrw
Just for You
All first-year (1L) students are assigned to small groups before classes start. Your group takes every class together and is mixed in with the other 1L groups. The result? You end up having a class with every other new student by the end of the first week.
Learn to Thrive
The Academic Excellence Center offers all law students opportunities to enhance their academic performance through for-credit courses, workshops, study groups, tutoring and individual counseling. As a 1L, the Center will help you integrate “how to learn” with “what to learn” so you thrive, not just survive, in law school.
Make Your Words Count
The Legal Reasoning, Research and Writing program helps you master a variety of written and oral communication tasks, while the WVU Law Writing Center will help you become a better writer. The Center provides an encouraging atmosphere in which to discuss, refine and experiment with writing and the teaching of writing.
The George R. Farmer, Jr. Law Library is the largest law library in the state, making it an invaluable resource for our students. 9
STRENGTHSQUEST WVU Law uses Gallup's StrengthsQuest to help 1L students succeed in law school. The skills-assessment program helps students identify and use their individual top talents. Then it helps students develop and use those talents to achieve academic, professional and personal goals. Brad Wright, President of the Class of 2017, puts it: “It provides tips for general academic life, study techniques, relationships, class selection and extracurricular activities that will enhance your experience and provide you with a baseline to be a successful law student.”
THE GEORGE R. FARMER, JR. LAW LIBRARY
Associate Dean Kendra H. Fershee, Phil Lehman ’17 and Alex Jonese ’17
LaTasha Banks ’15
Research is a core tenet of legal education, and law students spend a lot of time in the library. The George R. Farmer, Jr. Library is a hub of activity, day and night. The Farmer Library is the largest public law library in the state, with more than 300,000 volumes. It offers access to more than 20 legal databases, including Bloomberg Law, Environmental Law Reporter, FastCase, Foreign Law Guide, LexisNexis and Westlaw. Five of our librarians have law degrees, and they are happy to help in any way they can. law.wvu.edu/library
Our rigorous curriculum is balanced by our collegial and supportive community. 10
TAKE THE LEAD. Make the most of your time at WVU Law. Seize life-changing opportunities. Forge connections that will shape your career and learn from outstanding mentors.
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Brad Wright '17 12
STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES. Comparative law — the study of laws of other countries — leads to a deeper understanding of the global community and gives a valuable perspective to U.S. laws. What better way to understand another country’s laws and culture than by studying there? It’s also a great way to make friends and professional contacts. All our courses are taught in English by WVU and local faculty.
law.wvu.edu/academics/study-abroad
Switzerland
WVU has an educational exchange agreement with Lomonosov Moscow State University, the oldest and largest university in Russia. As part of the agreement, students can travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to study international trade law, including behind-the-scene visits to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (photo right).
Mexico
In Mexico, you can visit legal institutions and take classes at the University of Guanajuato, one of the oldest universities in one of the oldest cities in Latin America.
Brazil
The Brazil study abroad trip includes exploring the rainforest while learning about environmental law and property rights before attending lectures at the University of Vila Velha in Vitoria.
WVU Law students study migration issues from a Mexican legal, cultural and social perspective in historic Guanajuato.
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"I learned about the differences between Mexican law and American law in areas such as finance, banking, property and elections. Further, I learned about traveling abroad and how to adapt to different surroundings. At a more basic level, the experience showcased the common elements of humanity that exist despite the stark cultural and linguistic differences which we share. Overall, studying abroad helps to make one’s legal education more complete and worthwhile." – Imad Matini, Class of 2014 Clerk, the Honorable Stephanie D. Thacker, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Study abroad in Mexico, Summer 2013
WVU Law students spend three weeks in Brazil, studying environmental and property law.
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A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE. WVU Law students come from a variety of backgrounds and hold a variety of interests that contribute to a quality law school experience in and out of the classroom. Exemplary students and 30 student organizations show excellence in a number of ways, including volunteerism, random acts of kindness and outstanding cocurricular or extracurricular performance. We recognize — and foster — that effort, which contributes to our culture of excellence.
law.wvu.edu/student-life
Student Bar Association
The Student Bar Association is affiliated with the American Law Student Association, the student division of the American Bar Association. As the student government of WVU Law, it furthers cooperation and maximizes student input into the academic and administrative processes as well as administers the honor system. The SBA hosts the annual Barrister’s Ball.
Public Interest Advocates
The Public Interest Advocates raises awareness in public interest law. It sponsors an annual speaker series, promotes student awareness of public interest employment opportunities and funds summer public interest fellowships. The annual PIA Spring Auction is attended by students and faculty and regional judges and lawyers. Auction proceeds help underwrite fellowships granted by the West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest.
Moot Court
Moot Court encourages the development of practice-ready skills in brief writing and oral advocacy. Moot Court hosts the annual George C. Baker Cup competition and sends a team to the National Moot Court Competition. The Moot Court Traveling Team has gone to competitions in New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, Boston and New York. Founded in 1968, the Baker Cup competition is a highlight of the academic year. The final round is held each spring before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, and the justices select the winner.
OUTlaw
OUTlaw fosters open communication and networking between gay and straight communities while educating students on gay rights issues. Recent OUTlaw guest speakers include marriage equality lawyers Paul Smith and Evan Wolfson.
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Black Law Student Association
The Black Law Student Association is dedicated to increasing the number of lawyers sensitive to the unique problems and needs of minority communities and is a forum for the discussion of issues and problems that confront law students of color.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Society
The Alternative Dispute Resolution Society hosts experts and participates in local mediation trainings and competitions. The group is instrumental in maintaining the Magistrate Court Mediation program in West Virginia by organizing and volunteering for monthly mediation.
Family Law Quarterly Jeremy Gunn ’14, Litigation Associate, Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoades LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
West Virginia Law Review The West Virginia Law Review was founded in 1894 and is the fourth-oldest law review in the United States. Published three times a year by a student editorial board, it is a professional, student-governed legal journal. Each issue includes notes, comments and articles of scholarly and practical value.
Marlyn E. Lugar Trial Association
The Marlyn E. Lugar Trial Association furthers academic excellence and professional competence in trial advocacy and hosts the Lugar Cup, our annual in-house trial competition. Lugar members receive three credit hours by participating in two outside trial competitions and competing in the Lugar Cup.
Students have the opportunity to work on the American Bar Association’s Family Law Quarterly, a scholarly journal currently based at WVU Law.
Our culture of excellence includes students like Phil Wachowiak. Argued (successfully) an immigration case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Chicago, lllinois Public Interest Advocates Fellow at Childlaw Services Public Interest Advocates Fellow at West Virginia Senior Legal Aid Member, Immigration Law Clinic Member, Public Interest Advocates Winner, CALI Award (Jewish/Islamic Comparative Law)
Jodi Mileto '17
The professional connections you make at WVU Law will last beyond your time in Morgantown.
Winner, Spring 2016 Exemplary Student Award 16
LAW CLINICS. WVU Law’s award-winning Clinical Law program, founded in 1976, helps students develop practice-ready skills while providing an important legal service to clients in need.
law.wvu.edu/clinics
General Practice
The General Practice Law Clinic concentrates on legal services in family law (including violence protection, custody, support, divorce and adoption), social security and other public benefits, property issues, consumer debt relief, bankruptcy and cases taken by court appointment. Students often appear in state and federal courts throughout West Virginia. Students are representing a small business owner who had his assets misappropriated by his business partner. Another team is representing clients in special-case adoptions and with bankruptcy protection due to medical debt.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Law Clinic gives students the opportunity to provide legal services to start-up companies, small businesses, nonprofits and individuals. The Clinic works with clients in counseling for a product plan or business organization; licensing; employee and contractor agreements; intellectual property; financing and venture capital; planning and negotiation; dispute resolution; and generalized assistance in business formation, planning and strategy. Last year, students in the Clinic successfully provided advocacy on 24 trademark filings, oppositions and responses that helped West Virginia entrepreneurs and small businesses. WVU Law participates in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Law School Clinic Certification program.
Taxpayer Advocacy
Taxpayer Advocacy provides free legal representation in federal tax matters. Students appear before the U.S. Tax Court when it sits in Charleston, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They represent clients in a wide range of tax matters.
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“I had the privilege and honor of representing a client in the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Being in that situation was one of the greatest thrills of my life. I knew that when I came to WVU Law I would have experiences that no other law school could provide. What I couldn’t have imagined was that I would help to define the law in a real-world way.” —R ichard Morris ’15 Donham Law, LLC Morgantown, West Virginia
CLINICS Students, under faculty supervision, provide more than 40,000 hours of free legal aid a year through our clinics. This effort earned the program the Super Lawyers 2012 Excellence in Pro Bono Award, a national recognition given to only one law school a year. The Clinical Law Program is structured by practice, like an actual law firm, and operates out of a 5,500 square foot office suite. In 2016, three clients of the Clinical Law Program were granted clemency by President Barack Obama as part of the national Clemency Project 2014. Clinic students assist, pro bono, more than 200 clients a year on the domestic violence docket in the Monongalia County Family Court.
“I was going to try to go to court myself and represent us, but then we found out about the Veterans Assistance Project. I’m glad we did. The students have been a lot of help and have done a great job. We’d have never been able to represent ourselves or hire someone.” — former U.S. Marine
Veterans Advocacy The Veterans Advocacy Law Clinic provides civil legal services to qualified veterans in family law (including violence protection, custody, support, divorce and adoption), estate planning, property issues and consumer debt relief. It is the first-of-its-kind initiative in the nation between a law school and a VA hospital. Clinic students recently won a case for a veteran who had been medically discharged due to a spinal injury. The client received full compensation on a claim that had been in question since 2012. 18
LAW CLINICS. West Virginia Innocence Project
The West Virginia Innocence Project serves to free people who are in prison for crimes they did not commit. It’s affiliated with the national Innocence Network. It also works to reform faulty practices that lead to wrongful convictions, including eyewitness identification procedures. Clinic students successfully filed an appeal in the West Virginia Supreme Court on behalf of a client convicted of murder by arson, arguing that the evidence consisted of discredited investigation techniques. Another client, serving a 40-year sentence for the death of his stepdaughter, was freed from prison after the WVIP was able to prove “an alternative cause of death.”
Land Use and Sustainable Development
The Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic provides legal services to local governments, landowners and nonprofits to develop land conservation strategies and practices. This clinic provides an opportunity to gain practical experience in land use law and policy. In this transactional and policy-based clinic, students develop research, drafting, negotiation and client counseling skills. Under the guidance of experienced attorneys and professionals, students contribute to land and water conservation efforts. The clinic is part of an award-winning team of WVU experts that is working to help historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, rebuild and recover following a devastating fire.
Immigration
The Immigration Law Clinic has served scores of clients facing deportation, asylum and other immigration proceedings for almost two decades. It has won political asylum for clients from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Guinea and Russia. Clinic students often have to push the law creatively in circumstances related to today’s most pressing issues, such as gender persecution, social turmoil during democratic transition and conflict in the Middle East. The Immigration Law Clinic is co-directed by Robert S. Whitehill, a partner with Fox Rothschild, LLP, in Pittsburgh. Students argued before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago on behalf of a Honduran client threatened with deportation. They won when the judge remanded the case back to the Bureau of Immigration Appeals.
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JENNY THOMA Class of 2016 Law Clerk, Judge Michael Aloi U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia West Virginia Innocence Project “ Standing up for the rights of the wrongfully convicted and wrongfully imprisoned was incredibly meaningful and fulfilling. After working relentlessly all year on a client's habeas case and representing him in an omnibus hearing, we prevailed and his conviction was vacated by the Court. The absolute highlight of my year was witnessing our client's release from prison, after serving almost 11 years for a crime he did not commit, and his long-awaited reunion with his family.”
“The Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic is a great opportunity to work with experienced faculty and fellow classmates on real-world projects. I have worked with local governments to develop comprehensive land use plans. The plan lays the foundation for the community’s long-term vision and drives future zoning ordinances and land use regulations.” — Liz Grant ’14 Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Martinsburg, West Virginia
U.S. Supreme Court
The United States Supreme Court Law Clinic is one of a handful of SCOTUS law clinics in the nation. Students research and draft briefs for clients, working primarily on criminal, immigration, prisoner and civil liberties appeals. It provides practical experience on some of the most significant legal cases facing the nation. The Clinic is directed by Lawrence D. Rosenberg, a partner in the firm Jones Day. Rosenberg has been lead counsel for numerous matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. Students recently worked on a case that involved the constitutionality of sentencing defendants under the age of 18 who are convicted of nonhomicide felonies to consecutive long-term imprisonment without parole.
Child and Family Advocacy Clinic with Medical-Legal Partnership
The Child and Family Advocacy Clinic with Medical-Legal Partnership works with children and families of limited income in order to promote their health, security and future success. The Medical-Legal Partnership operates in cooperation with WVU Medicine Children’s and WVU Medicine Chestnut Ridge Center. During visits, clinicians identify potential legal issues, such as lack of health insurance, inadequate housing, unemployment or child custody. If a legal problem is identified, the families are given the opportunity to consult with WVU Law students. Students from these clinics have been appointed by the Family Courts in Monongalia and Preston counties to serve as guardians ad litem in 18 cases. They also wrote a successful amicus brief at the request of the West Virginia Supreme Court concerning protective orders in a divorce action.
Maggie Power ’17 and AJ Johnson ’17
You can make a real difference in people’s lives — before you graduate. 20
CENTER FOR LAW AND PUBLIC SERVICE. WVU Law has a distinguished history of public service. The Center helps students develop key professional skills and an understanding of public interest law. It also engages students by fostering a dialogue about current legal services and issues, and by encouraging students to become leaders who seek creative solutions toward achieving equal access to justice in society.
law.wvu.edu/public-service
Externships
The College offers a wide variety of externships in nonprofit, government and judicial settings, locally and around the country, to help students with valuable career-building experience while serving the community. Facilitated by the Center for Law and Public Service, externships are available during the school year and the summer. Qualified students may also apply for a Federal Judicial Externship with a U.S. District Court or Circuit Court Judge.
PIA Fellowships
The Center coordinates with the West Virginia Fund for the Public Interest and the Public Interest Advocates (PIA) student organization to provide fellowships to students interested in full-time summer work at legal service agencies throughout West Virginia. The Fund and the Center also work together to provide a postgraduate fellowship program for students pursuing careers in public interest law.
Pro Bono Community Service
The Pro Bono program provides opportunities for students to dedicate time outside of the classroom to perform legal assistance to people in need. Pro bono opportunities include mediating cases in magistrate court, serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in circuit court on behalf of children and volunteering with the Appalachian Prison Book project.
Members of the Class of 2018 prepared breakfast for dinner at the Morgantown Ronald McDonald House during Orientation. 21
ALYSON FUREY Class of 2016 Externship at The Wilderness Society, Washington, D.C. “ You’ve got to reach out to people, and you can’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You’re going to hear a hundred ‘no’s’ before you hear a ‘yes,’ but it’s that ‘yes’ that gets your foot in the door.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Eighteen WVU Law students were awarded fellowships in summer 2016 to serve in public interest law throughout West Virginia. They provided muchneeded help in agencies such as Legal Aid of West Virginia, the Rural Legal Corporation, Equal Justice Works, Childlaw Services and Mountain State Justice. Three graduates were awarded year-long fellowships to work in public interest law.
Micki Biggs ’16 gained valuable work experience as a 2015 PIA Summer Fellow at Mountain State Justice in Clarksburg, West Virginia.
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CENTER FOR ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. Energy, environmental and sustainability law is an exciting and fast-developing field with a lot of opportunities. West Virginia is at the center of energy production for the country, and there is no better place to learn about the intersecting laws and policies governing energy resources.
energy.law.wvu.edu
Shaping Policies
Founded in 2011, WVU Law’s Center for Energy and Sustainable Development is committed to playing a prominent role in shaping the energy and environmental policies of the future for the state, the nation and the world.
Unbiased Research
The Center conducts objective, unbiased research and policy analyses, provides a forum for issues to be explored by various stakeholders and promotes policies that balance the demand for energy resources alongside the need to reduce environmental impacts.
Focusing on the Future
Training for the next generation of energy and environmental attorneys
Promotion of sustainable practices Training of local officials in sustainable land use policy practices Encouragement for the development of clean energy technologies Advancement for the role of utilities in pursuing clean energy
National Energy Conference
The Center hosts an annual energy conference that explores topics and policies with national experts from industry, government and environmental organizations. The spring 2016 conference examined the future of coal communities in West Virginia and Appalachia.
Creating Firsts
The Center for Energy and Sustainable Development established and hosted the nation’s first Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition in 2011. It has grown to 24 teams from law schools across the country. The competition promotes development of appellate advocacy skills, with a particular emphasis on the convergence of energy and sustainability issues. It is coordinated by the student Moot Court Board.
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LL.M. OPPORTUNITY WVU Law offers an LL.M. in Energy and Sustainable Development Law. Visit law.wvu.edu/energy-llm to find out more. The LL.M. is offered online or in a traditional classroom setting. WVU Law also offers a fast-track dual degree J.D./LL.M. that can be completed in 3-1/2 years.
“West Virginia is at the center of energy production. As a result, the College of Law is able to play a significant role in the national dialogue on energy, the environment and sustainability.” — Joyce McConnell, WVU Provost
Students and faculty in the Energy and Sustainable Development LL.M. program touring the Three Mile Island reactor near Middletown, Pennsylvania.
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CAREER SERVICES CENTER. A successful legal career — it’s why you’re going to law school. In and out of the classroom, WVU Law’s focus on the development of practice-ready skills provides solid preparation for a career.
law.wvu.edu/career-services
Your Options
The Meredith Career Services Center is committed to successful employment outcomes for graduates, which means helping you find the career of your dreams. We offer: Access to Symplicity, an online career services management system On-campus interviews and candidate-employer contacts Individual and group career counseling Mock interviews Individual résumé and cover letter review Professional attire and etiquette dinner workshops Workshops on traditional and nontraditional career opportunities Career resource library Job fairs Access to additional job search tools
Goals and Outcomes
The Center is committed to successful employment outcomes for graduates, which means helping students find a path to satisfying employment — not just a job. Students receive individual attention from the Career Services Center. Through a variety of resources and programs, the Center helps students assess their career goals, explore the many job opportunities a law degree makes available and make the transition from law school to the professional world seamless.
Opening Up Opportunities The staff provide career counseling, workshops for résumé preparation and cover letter writing and individual practice interviews. The Center also brings recruiters to campus and reaches out to employers to encourage the hiring of WVU Law graduates.
Amber Brugnoli, assitant dean for Career Services, and Chris Bauer ’16 25
Alan Wilson ’14, WilmerHale, LLP, Washington, D.C.
Lauren Givhan ’14, Assistant County Attorney, Jefferson County, Louisville, Kentucky
YOUR FUTURE The reality is that a law degree does not define you, you define it. You determine what your law degree will do for you. Where will it take you? 26
LIFE AT WVU LAW. It’s no secret that law school is a serious commitment. Classes, reading, studying, research, meetings and more reading; when you have free time, it has to make a difference.
Guest Speakers and More
Engaging guest speakers, usually during the noon hour, range from human rights lawyers and experts in patent law to lawyer-authors, federal attorneys and judges. There are films, luncheons, exhibits and informal nights out hosted by student organizations.
Take a Break
The student lounge is a popular place to relax and eat. During Wellness Week you can enjoy a free massage and yoga class or even pet a puppy. The lobby area is also a convenient stop between classes, and it is home to a Barnes & Noble bookstore and café.
Former U.S. Senator John D. Rockefeller
Where You’ll Learn
In 2016, WVU Law completed a $26 million, 30,000-square foot expansion and renovation to benefit the student experience. The sweeping project includes clinical law offices, classrooms, a courtroom, student organization offices, common areas, library improvements and conference rooms. We’ve raised the bar on law school facilities.
The new John W. Fisher II Courtroom. 27
Marvin Sapp ’15, U.S. Air Force JAG, Albuquerque, New Mexico
“I chose WVU Law because I recognized the importance of building relationships with my future colleagues. All of my professors are very approachable and personable, and it's evident that their focus is ensuring students receive an excellent education.” Brittany Givens Class of 2018 West Virginia State University, 2013
SOME NOTABLE ALUMNI Irene C. Berger, Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Stephanie D. Thacker, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Marty Becker, Chairman, QBE Insurance Group Robert B. King, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit John T. Chambers, former Chairman, CEO of Cisco Systems, Inc.
“I chose the WVU College of Law for the quality of education, outdoor opportunities, amenities in the surrounding area and because it is located close to metropolitan areas providing entertainment and employment opportunities. The students, faculty and staff at WVU Law are incredible individuals who are invested in your success. All in all, the WVU College of Law provides a great education and a good quality of life.” Jackson Butler Class of 2017 Student Bar Association President, 2016-17 Oklahoma State University, 2013
“I chose WVU Law because I love West Virginia and care deeply about its future. I knew I wanted to work here in the long run, so the decision was a personal and financial no-brainer for me. I absolutely made the right move. WVU has top-notch professors and a multitude of opportunities to get involved. Law school is like anything else in life — you get out of it what you put into it.” Rebecca Trump Class of 2018 Pennsylvania State University, 2013
William J. Ihlenfeld II, U.S. Attorney, Northern District of West Virginia Michael T. Escue, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, NY R. Booth Goodwin, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Robert M. Steptoe Jr., Member, Steptoe and Johnson, PLLC Irene Keeley, Judge, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia John Thomas Copenhaver Jr., Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Robin Jean Davis, Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Charles M. Love III, Partner, Bowles Rice Margaret L. Workman, Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Menis E. Ketchum, Justice, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia Dwane L. Tinsley, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia Thomas B. Bennett, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama Jon D. Levy, Judge, U.S. District Court of Maine Scott Segal, Partner, The Segal Law Firm
“At WVU Law, the opportunities are endless. A warm and welcoming staff and administration really made me feel like I was at home, and that was definitely the type of environment where I wanted to study law.” Benjamin Wilson Class of 2017 Editor-in-Chief, West Virginia Law Review, 2016-17 Michigan State University, 2008 Southern New Hampshire University (M.S.), 2015
Ellen S. Cappellanti, Managing Member, Jackson Kelly, PLLC Marvin Masters, The Masters Law Firm, L.C. R obert C. Skaggs Jr., President and CEO, NiSource Inc. Joseph S. Farland (1914-2007), U.S. Ambassador to Iran, Pakistan, Panama, Dominican Republic Philander C. Knox (1853-1921), U.S. Attorney General, Secretary of State Gene Irisari, Director Government Relations, Texas Instruments Jeffrey Rockwell, Major General, Deputy Judge Advocate General for the U.S. Air Force
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DISCOVER THE MOUNTAIN STATE. Mountains are (literally) a big part of who we are. West Virginia’s incredible natural beauty attracts outdoor adventurers from around the world. Beautiful spots to enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking, skiing and world-class whitewater are nearby.
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EXPLORE CAMPUS. Your New Hometown CollegeRanker named Morgantown #24 on its list of “50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever.” est College Reviews ranked Morgantown #20 on its B “50 Best College Towns in America” list.
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he American Institute for Economic Research ranks T Morganton #18 among the Top 75 College Cities and Towns in America.
MORGANTOWN CAMPUSES 220 BUILDING 1,899 ACRES
HEALTH SCIENCES
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WVU LAW
Enjoy Nature
Our region’s natural beauty is famous, and people around the world sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” West Virginia has 37 state parks, 9 state forests and 2 national forests for you to explore.
Facilities
You can take advantage of WVU’s campuswide facilities and amenities — from the Student Recreation Center with its pools, courts and climbing wall to concerts, performances and the excitement of Big 12 Conference athletics.
EVANSDALE
DOWNTOWN
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FAST FACTS
WVU LAW AT-A-GLANCE
West Virginia University was founded in 1867 as a public, land-grant institution. Today, the Morgantown campus has over 28,000 students in 212 degree programs within 14 colleges and schools (including WVU Law).
The WVU College of Law was founded in 1878 and has been ABA accredited since 1923.
8:1 72% 80% STUDENT-TOFACULTY RATIO
OF THE CLASS OF 2018 RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
CLASS OF 2015 EMPLOYMENT RATE
80+
75%
44,000
FEDERAL AND STATE JUDGES ARE ALUMNI
BAR PASSAGE RATE (July 2015, first-time takers)
WE’RE WORLDWIDE 5,700+ Law alumni worldwide 102 students studied law in Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland (2014 - 2016) 33
HOURS PRO BONO SERVICE BY OUR LAW CLINICS
WVU LAW IS ON TOP
LAW PROFILE: CLASS OF 2018
#42 #94 A-
GO-TO LAW SCHOOLS
(preLaw Magazine, 2015)
Female: 42%
TOP 5
REGIONAL LAW SCHOOL FOR BLACK LAW STUDENTS
Male: 58%
(The National Law Journal, 2015)
TOP SCHOOLS OF LAW
(U.S. News & World Report, 2015)
BEST VALUE LAW SCHOOLS
(On Being a Black Lawyer, 2012, 2013)
LAW SCHOOLS FOR CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
TOP 25 2012 EXCELLENCE IN PRO BONO AWARD – CLINICAL LAW PROGRAM (SEC data, independent research, 2014)
(Super Lawyer, 2013)
RAISING THE BAR WVU Law students find Bar Passage Required and J.D. Advantage jobs at rates higher than the national average — 10 points higher for the Class of 2015.
CLASS OF 2015 EMPLOYMENT DATA Bar Passage Required
Number of students: 103 Average age: 25 Age range: 21-49
West Virginia Resident: 66% Diversity: 11% Median LSAT score: 153 Median GPA: 3.35
$2.9 MILLION in scholarships and grants awarded this year to all WVU Law students.
72.8%
J.D. Advantage
7.2%
Other Professional
2.4%
Pursuing Degree F/T
1.6%
Unemployed Seeking
7.2%
Unemployed Not Seeking
1.6%
Status Unknown
2.4%
$110,310
Average national law student debt
AREAS OF PRACTICE Private Practice
50.4%
Government
10.1%
Judicial Clerkship
19.2%
Business
11.9%
Public Interest
2.7%
Academic
1.8%
$85,063
Average WVU Law student debt
SALARY RANGE $35,000 – $135,000 * Ten months after graduation (March 2016) Class size: 126 (source: ABA, NALP)
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JOIN US ON LAW SCHOOL HILL. We’re ready to help you decide if WVU Law is the right fit for you. We hope you’ll join the WVU Law community on Law School Hill.
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WVU Law strives to bring the best and brightest students from a variety of backgrounds into our community. We view the admissions process holistically, so we consider your academic achievements along with your personal interests, contributions and experiences.
HOW TO APPLY Start your application process at lsac.org. After you apply, you will be able to monitor your status and even see your decision online. The following are essential requirements to apply: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report WVU Law Application for Admissions (available through LSAC) Please explore the many resources available on our website to help with the admissions and application process, including FAQs, How to Apply and more. Please contact the Admissions office with any questions. We look forward to the opportunity to assist you. law.wvu.edu
ADMISSIONS TIMELINE SEPTEMBER 1
First day applications accepted
OCTOBER 1
F ree Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online at fafsa.ed.gov
MARCH 1
A dmissions and financial aid application deadlines
JULY 1
Transfer application deadline
FIRST-YEAR ESTIMATED COSTS TUITION AND FEES
$20,916 (West Virginia residents) $37,674 (Non-West Virginia residents) $28,836 (LL.M.)
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
$3,000
LIVING EXPENSES
$ 11,400 (estimated)
COMPUTER PURCHASE
$1,500
*2016-17 figures
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WVU LAW COURSE LIST LAWYERING AND SKILLS TRAINING Appellate Advocacy Business Transactions Drafting Child and Family Advocacy Clinic General Practice Clinic Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clinic Family Law Quarterly Federal Agency Externship Federal Judicial Externship Immigration Law Clinic Innocence Project Jessup International Moot Court Land Use and Sustainable Development Clinic Law Review Lawyers and Legislation Legal Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiating Lugar Trial Advocacy Pretrial Litigation Professional Responsibility Taxpayer Advocacy Clinic Trial Advocacy U.S. Supreme Court Clinic Veterans Assistance Project
BUSINESS AND COMMERCIAL LAW Advanced Labor Law Analytical Methods for Lawyers Bankruptcy and Advanced Bankruptcy Business Organizations Business Torts Business Transactions Drafting Coal, Oil and Gas Commercial Law (seminar) Comparative/International Workplace Law (seminar) Contracts II Corporate Governance (seminar) Employment Discrimination Employment Law Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clinic Federal Income Taxation Health Care Law Insurance Law International Business Transactions Labor Law Nonprofit Organizations Payment Systems Sales and Secured Transactions Securities Law State and Local Tax Taxation of Business Entities Trade Regulation (anti-trust)
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ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY LAW Agriculture and Food Law Coal, Oil and Gas Energy Law Survey Energy Regulation, Markets and the Environment Environmental Justice Seminar Environmental Litigation Seminar Environmental Protection Law Hazardous Waste Law International Environment Law and Arbitration Land Use and Resilience Law Land Use and Sustainable Development Clinic Natural Resources Law Nuclear Law and Policy Permitting and Siting of Energy Facilities Renewable Energy and Alternative Fuels Sustainable Development Seminar The Energy Business: Law and Strategy The Science and Technology of Energy
FAMILY LAW Child and Family Advocacy Clinic Child Protection and Law Domestic Violence Law Elder Law Estate Planning Family Law Health Care Law Sexuality and the Law (seminar) Wealth Transfers
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Art Law Business Torts Copyright Law Cultural Property Cyber Law Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clinic Genetic Property and Law (seminar) Intellectual Property Law Patent Prosecution Patent Law Trademark Law
INTERNATIONAL LAW Comparative Brazilian Law (study abroad) Comparative Law in Mexico (study abroad) Geneva Study Abroad Comparative Law in Geneva
Immigration Law International Business Transactions International Environmental Law International Human Rights International Law International Trade Law Jewish-Islamic Comparative Law
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Comparative and International Workplace Law (seminar) Employment Law Employment Discrimination Entertainment Law Labor Law Law and Socioeconomics (seminar) Sports Law Workers Compensation Law
LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION Advanced Torts (seminar) Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Advocacy Civil Rights Conflict of Laws Criminal Procedure I: Investigation Criminal Procedure II: Adjudication E-Discovery Evidence Federal Courts Health Care Torts Pretrial Litigation Post Conviction Remedies Property Law Remedies Trial Evidence
PUBLIC LAW/PUBLIC INTEREST LAW Administrative Law Civil Disobedience (seminar) Civil Rights Constitutional Law II Consumer Law Education Law Election Law Energy Law Environmental Justice (seminar) Environmental Protection Law Income Taxation I Natural Resources Law Privacy Law Public Service Externship State and Local Government Law Taxation Trade Regulation (anti-trust) West Virginia Constitutional Law
PERSPECTIVES Advanced Criminal Law: Case Studies Analytical Methods for Lawyers American Legal History Dying and the Law International Law Jurisprudence Law and Economics Law and Psychology Lawyer as Storyteller Lawyers and Film Lawyers and Literature Lawyers as Leaders Psychology for Lawyers
ADDITIONAL SEMINARS American Constitutional History Animal Law Comparative Constitutional Law Constitutional Litigation Constitutional History Corporate Governance Election Law Empirical Legal Methods Intellectual Property International Trade Regulation Issues in Energy Law Land Transactions Lawyers and Legislation Race/Racism and American Law Religion and the Constitution
FIRST-YEAR COURSES (REQUIRED) Civil Procedure Jurisdiction Contracts Criminal Law Civil Procedure Rules Constitutional Law Intro to Legal Research Legislation and Regulation Property Torts Legal Reasoning, Research and Writing (two semesters)
UPPER-LEVEL COURSES (REQUIRED) Appellate Advocacy One Perspective course Professional Responsibility Research seminar One of the following: Trial Advocacy Clinic Business Transactions Drafting Federal Externship Program Federal Agency Externship Federal Judicial Externship
Note: Some courses are not offered every year. This list includes principal courses only and is not a substitute for the College of Law Catalog. 38
101 Law School Drive P.O. Box 6130 Morgantown, WV 26506
law.wvu.edu Founded in 1878, the West Virginia University College of Law was accredited by the AALS in 1914 and the ABA in 1923.
air miles
m.
m.
QUESTIONS? Baltimore Washington, D.C.
The WVU Law Admissions Office is your first resource on the path to a top legal education and achieving your dream of becoming a lawyer. Go to law.wvu.edu to learn more.
VISIT US. Visiting us is the best way to determine if WVU Law is right for you. Come to Law School Hill and sit in on a class, meet our current students, faculty and staff and tour the College. We want to meet you! We also offer two special open house events: Fall Experience WVU Law Day - September 30, 2016 Spring Experience WVU Law Day - January 28, 2017
West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities. WVU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Many WVU programs hold specialized accreditation. (120059)