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.
IMAD MATINI Class of 2014 Following graduation, Imad secured a two-year clerkship with the Hon. Frederick Stamp Jr., Senior U.S. District Judge in Wheeling, West Virginia. In fall 2016, Imad will begin a two-year clerkship with Judge Stephanie D. Thacker, WVU Law Class of 1990, at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia. “ WVU Law is devoted to opening doors for its students and offering them the most opportunities for success. The many clinics, organizations and classes provided us with both ample academic stimulation and significant real-life legal experience. Since graduating, my degree has provided me with many unique and exciting opportunities. Even better, I have felt more than able to manage the unique and dynamic challenges that arise in the legal profession.”
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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 two dual degrees: J.D./Executive MBA: usually completed in three years J.D./Master’s in Public Administration (J.D./M.P.A.): usually completed in four years
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. West Virginia is a leading energy state located in the heart of the Marcellus Shale, 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 (prosecutors, defenders and judges) in the criminal justice system whose work is increasingly influenced by breakthroughs in DNA testing.
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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 wellconnected mentors. They are respected leaders in legal education 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
ARTHUR RIZER Before joining WVU Law, Professor Rizer worked at the U.S. Department of Justice for nine years. He was a prosecutor in the Criminal Division working on drug cartel and narco-terrorist cases; a national security litigator with the Guantanamo Bay Litigation Team; a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California; and a civil litigator with the Office of Immigration Litigation. Before law school, Professor Rizer served as a military police and armor officer and was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. A former police officer and an expert on police militarization, he earned an LL.M. from Georgetown University, J.D. from Gonzaga University and a B.A. from Pacific Lutheran. He was selected Professor of the Year by the Class of 2015. COURSES TAUGHT: Evidence/Advanced Evidence; Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure; National Security Law; Trial Advocacy
ATIBA ELLIS The research of Atiba Ellis focuses on voting rights with attention on right-to-vote concepts that exclude voters. He has written about the economic entry barriers posed by voter ID laws and the effects of the 2010 Citizens United v. FEC U.S. Supreme Court decision. Professor Ellis is a frequent contributor to the influential American Constitution Society blog and co-founded the Constitutional Law Prof Blog. He speaks at academic conferences, universities and law schools about voting rights law, how race and gender affect the law of politics, diversity issues and matters related to the law of democracy. He earned his J.D., M.A. and B.A. from Duke University. The West Virginia Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission presented Professor Ellis with its 2015 Living the Dream Award for his contributions to education. COURSES TAUGHT: Election Law and Policy; Civil Rights Law; Race/Racism and American Law; Wealth Transfers (Trusts and Estates); Property
ALISON PECK Alison Peck’s scholarship focuses on sustainable development law, and she conducts research in environmental and trade law with a special focus on agriculture and food law. Professor Peck is collaborating on a policy white paper for Argentine legislators dealing with regulatory updates for the development of oil and gas reserves in Patagonia. Her practice experience includes being a senior attorney for Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, in Washington, D.C.; a law clerk for the Court of Appeals for the European Communities and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; and assistant director and senior research fellow at the Global Constitutionalism Project at Yale Law School. She earned an LL.M. from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Butler University. COURSES TAUGHT: Natural Resources Law; International Environmental Law; International Trade Law; Agriculture, Food and Rural Land Use Law; Sustainable Development
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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 wellreasoned positions and insist that you achieve more than you ever imagined.
Gerry Ashdown, the James H. “Buck” and June M. Harless 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
A.J. Thomas ’14, Cipriani Law Offices, Wellsburg, West Virginia
LAW STUDENT BLOG Check out what it’s like at WVU Law on the Law Student Blog by visiting studentblog.law.wvu.edu. It’s student-run, student-written, entertaining, irreverent and relevant. Don’t neglect to take advantage of the support of your fellow students. As one WVU Law student noted on the student blog: “Work hard to find people you trust but also can have fun with. Join a study group, even if you think you study better alone — you can do both! Studying with my friends always calms me down before a big exam and always gives me a group of fun people to celebrate with after it’s over.”
THE GEORGE R. FARMER, JR. LAW LIBRARY 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
LaTasha Banks ’15
Our rigorous curriculum is balanced by our collegial and supportive community. 10
TAKE THE REINS. 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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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
Brazil
The Brazil study abroad trip includes exploring the rain forest while learning about environmental law and property rights before attending lectures at the University of Vila Velha in Vitoria.
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.
Switzerland
WVU has an educational exchange agreement with Lomonosov Moscow State University, the oldest and largest university in Russia. As part of the agreement, you can travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to study international trade law.
WVU Law students spent three weeks in Brazil this summer, where they studied environmental and property law.
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KATIE WILSON Class of 2014 Director, Global Regulatory Affairs Policy, Mylan, Inc. Internship in The Hague, Netherlands “ Whether I continue my law practice in the U.S. or abroad, I will be able to say that I bore witness to justice in action.”
“I genuinely did not know what to expect from our two weeks in Mexico. Now I am considering a career in international human rights and have every intention of returning to beautiful Guanajuato.” — Allison Santer, Class of 2016
For the last two years, WVU Law students have spent a semester working internships at the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague, Netherlands. The ICTY is a United Nations court dealing with war crimes that occurred during the Balkan conflicts.
WVU Law students studied international trade law in Geneva, Switzerland, last summer, including visits to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.
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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, Inc.
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. The WVU Law ADR team was the 2013 regional champion in the ABA Section of Dispute Resolution’s Representation in Mediation Competition and competed in the finals in Chicago. In 2015, WVU Law hosted the ABA’s regional mediation competition. Jeremy Gunn ’14, Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
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.
Our culture of excellence includes students like Stephanie Welsh. Winner, Spring 2015 Exemplary Student Award Lt. Governor of Public Interest, American Bar Association Law Student Division Community Service Chair, Student Bar Association (organized the Veterans Thank-You Project and Law 5K) Vice President, Public Interest Advocates Member, Moot Court Volunteer, 2014 Orientation Winner, CALI Award
The professional connections you make at WVU Law will last beyond your time in Morgantown.
PIA Postgraduate Fellow, Legal Aid of West Virginia 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 and faculty in the General Practice Law Clinic successfully advocated for a family whose house was condemned by a city council. Rather than become homeless, the family was allowed to remain in their home until new housing could be secured.
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 Pilot 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. Civil Practice includes the following law clinics: General Practice, Child and Family with MedicalLegal Partnership, Immigration, the Innocence Project, Taxpayer Advocacy and the Veterans Assistance Project. The other separate clinics are: Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Land Use and Sustainability and the U.S. Supreme 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 Assistance Project
The Veterans Assistance Project 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. Students in the clinic helped settle a custody case that involved a serviceman who returned from duty to learn that he had fathered a child.
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LAW CLINICS. West Virginia Innocence Project
The West Virginia Innocence Project law clinic aims to serve and free people who are in prison for crimes they did not commit. It’s affiliated with the national Innocence Network. It also works to fix problems that lead to wrongful convictions. The project worked closely with state and other officials to enact eyewitness identification reform. Law enforcement departments are now required to develop and maintain a best-practice standard policy for eyewitness identification procedures. Thanks to the project, a recent client was reunited with his family after 18 years of incarceration.
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 recently helped permanently protect 665 acres of land along six miles of the Gauley River. Students and attorneys provided several hundred hours of pro bono legal assistance, working in five West Virginia counties.
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. Clinic students were able to halt the deportation of a Mexican national by proving to the Board of Immigration Appeals (part of the Department of Justice) that their client was not properly advised of his rights.
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“The Land Use and Sustainable Development 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
ASHLEY HAWKINS Class of 2015 Law Clerk, West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals West Virginia Innocence Project “ From litigating 25-yearold evidence to learning about the latest in forensic science, working with the West Virginia Innocence Project gave me the opportunity as a third-year law student to learn unique, practical and applicable criminal law skills.”
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. During medical 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. The partnership received formal recognition from the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership (NCMLP) in 2014. Only 37 law schools and 30 medical schools in the country are NCMLP members.
Paul Robinson ’14 and Ashlee Lambert ’14 at WVU Medicine Children's
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 law. The Center also engages students in public interest law by fostering a dialogue about current legal services and policy 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. Externships are facilitated by the Center for Law and Public Service.
PIA Fellowships
The Public Service Fellowships program allows students to earn credit hours by working in nonprofit and government agencies while developing key professional skills and an understanding of public interest law. These fellowships are available part-time or fulltime both locally and beyond Morgantown. Qualified students may apply for a Federal Judicial Externship with a U.S. District Court or Circuit Court Judge. Summer externships are also possible.
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.”
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES The Center coordinates with the West Virginia Fund for the Public Interest and the Public Interest Advocates 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.
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 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 2015 conference examined the implications of water protection on energy production.
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 15 universities. 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.
“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.
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.
Lawrence O. Gostin, global health law expert
Where You’ll Learn
WVU Law will complete a sweeping $26 million expansion and renovation in 2016. We’ve already added 30,000 square feet of new space, including classrooms, an additional courtroom and clinical law offices. Soon, students will have a new lounge and organization offices and benefit from improvements to the library and other facilities.
The new John W. Fisher II Courtroom. 27
Marvin Sapp ’15, U.S. Air Force JAG, Albuquerque, New Mexico
“The thought of leaving the only home I had ever known and moving 1,000 miles away to a place where I didn’t know anyone was intimidating. So I decided to tour the school and the town prior to accepting the offer. I was welcomed with open arms, not just by the administration at WVU Law, but with every person I interacted with on that visit to West Virginia. My decision became easy. The best thing about WVU Law is the people.” Brittany Mohamed, Class of 2016 President, Student Bar Association
“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.” Art Wolf, Class of 2016 U.S. Army Veteran Child and Family Advocacy Clinic
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. 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
“There was a friendly, hospitable culture at WVU Law that made me feel at ease when I came to visit. As law school is a major life transition, this welcoming environment was extremely important in my decision-making process. WVU Law’s ranking and postgraduation employment rates impressed me. These factors made me choose WVU Law, and every day I am thankful that I followed my instincts to come here.” Kelsey Jonas, Class of 2016 Executive Research Editor, West Virginia Law Review Secretary, Tax Law Soceity
“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.” Nikki Vernot, Class of 2017 President, Black Law Student Association Moot Court
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 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.” Best College Reviews ranked Morgantown #20 on its “50 Best College Towns in America” list.
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Forbes listed Morgantown as one of their “25 Best Places to Retire to” in the U.S.
CAMPUSES WITH 460 BUILDINGS ON 13,481 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 main campus has over 29,000 students in 193 degree programs within 15 colleges and schools (including WVU Law).
The WVU College of Law was founded in 1878 and has been ABA accredited since 1923.
30 75%
LAW STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
80+
FEDERAL AND STATE JUDGES ARE ALUMNI
BAR PASSAGE RATE (July 2015, first-time takers)
72%
OF THE CLASS OF 2018 RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
WE’RE WORLDWIDE 5,600+ alumni worldwide 46 students studied law in Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland (summer 2014, 2015) 33
STUDENT-TOFACULTY RATIO
44,000
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 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.
CLASS OF 2014 EMPLOYMENT DATA Bar Passage Required
58.9%
J.D. Advantage
18.6%
Other Professional
0.7%
Pursuing Degree F/T
1.5%
Unemployed Seeking
7.8%
Unemployed Not Seeking
0.7%
Status Unknown
1.5%
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
$2.3 MILLION in scholarships and grants awarded this year to all WVU Law students.
$109,000+
Average national law student debt
AREAS OF PRACTICE Private Practice
47.4%
Government
11.4%
Judicial Clerkship
14.9%
Business
13.1%
Public Interest
2.6%
Academic
2.3%
$84,727
Average WVU Law student debt
SALARY RANGE $25,000 – $160,000 * Ten months after graduation (March 2015) Class size: 129 (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
JANUARY 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
$19,008 (West Virginia residents) $35,568 (Non-West Virginia residents) $27,018 (LL.M.)
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
$3,000
LIVING EXPENSES
$ 11,400 (estimated)
COMPUTER PURCHASE
$1,500
*2015-16 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 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 Analytical Methods 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 Advanced 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 Wealth Transfers Health Care Law Sexuality and the Law (seminar)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Art Law Business Torts Copyright Law Cultural Property Cyber Law Entrepreneurship and Innovation Clinic Genetic Property and Law (seminar) Intellectual Property Patent Prosecution Patent Law Trademark Law Intellectual Property 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 National Security Law (seminar)
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 Criminal Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate Advocacy Civil Rights Conflict of Laws Criminal Procedure I: Investigation Criminal Procedure II: Adjudication Evidence Federal Courts Health Care Torts Pretrial Litigation Remedies Advanced Torts (seminar) Trial Evidence Property Law
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 Trade Regulation (anti-trust) West Virginia Constitutional Law Taxation
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 Torts Civil Procedure Rules Constitutional Law Legislation and Regulation Property Two semesters of Legal Reasoning, Research and Writing
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 PO 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.
Baltimore Washington, D.C.
QUESTIONS? 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!
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)