SURPRISE GRANT

       During a surprise announcement at the Lunch and Laughs event in Morgantown on September 9, the WV Bar Foundation Board of Directors made a $10,000 grant to the WVU College of Law to support legal clinics in underserved areas of the state, including those on the new WVU campus in Beckley.

     Pictured above are, from left to right, WVU President Gordon Gee, WVU Provost Joyce McConnell, WV Bar Foundation President Jodie Boylen and WVU College of Law Dean Gregory Bowman

     In making the presentation, President Boylen stated–“Our mission is to improve the provision of legal services for our citizens and this year we wish to focus those efforts on underserved areas of our state and getting upcoming lawyers into those underserved areas.

       As you know, WVU is enhancing its programs and services in the southern part of the state with its new Beckley campus —-and the College of Law is expanding its highly successful legal clinics with law students initiating clinics on the Beckley campus which gives a “perfect storm” of providing legal assistance to citizens in that undeserved area of WV, providing beneficial expertise and experiences for the law students and by providing those law students with the ability to see firsthand the opportunities that await them if they will practice law in that underserved area—-it is a win, win, win situation!”

      The grant funds will be utilized for law students travelling to Beckley to participate in the legal clinics as reimbursement for mileage, lodging and per diem meals.

      Congratulations to WVU, the WVU College of Law and to the inspiring law students and the clients who they will serve!  

     Here are just a few of the notable achievements:

          44,000 hours of pro bono services by the Legal Clinics.

          80% Class of 2015 Employment Rate.

          Top 5 Regional Law School for Black Law Students.

          Top 25 Law Schools for Corporate Leadership.

          No. 42-Go-To Law Schools.           No. 94 Top Schools of Law.

          A-Public Interest Law (Only 20 of 204 Law Schools received an A or A+.).

          A- -Best Value Law Schools.

          80+ Federal and State Judges are Alumni.

          102 Students studied Law in Brazil, Mexico and Switzerland (2014-16).

     With a vast majority of West Virginia lawyers having received their law degrees from the WVU College of Law, it continues to strive for excellence in all its law related educational activities.

     Bravo to the College of Law, its faculty, staff and students!!

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     The Bar Foundation Board of Directors has provided a significant grant for an innovative ant-bullying program in the Summers County public school system.

     The grant to the REACHH Child Advocacy Center in Summers County for $4,000 will be used for yoga training in elementary schools to help prevent bullying among the students. A sustainability plan was received as well as information regarding the success of this program in other locations in the nation.

      The Bar Foundation looks forward to receiving the required report as to how the funds have benefitted the young students in this southern WV area.

      Your financial support enables the Bar Foundation to improve the administration of justice in our state—Thank You!

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