The West Virginia Bar Foundation - The Philanthropic Organization For West Virginia's Legal Profession and Justice

Message from the PresidentOn behalf of the West Virginia Bar Foundation and its Board of Directors, we welcome you to our website. We are very pleased that the Bar Foundation has celebrated more than thirty years of service since its incorporation as a non-profit charitable entity here in West Virginia on December 30, 1988. The Bar Foundation, the philanthropic organization for the legal profession and justice system in West Virginia, has several responsibilities and programs in which it is involved. Its primary mission is to make grants to organizations that provide legal services to low income citizens and that improve the administration of justice, including the Public Service Scholarship to a worthy student at the West Virginia University College of Law. Almost $515,000 has been distributed and committed since the first grant in 2004, with more than $500,000 occurring in just the past 13 years. In 2021, the Bar Foundation’s Justice Fund, which is its endowment fund, exceeded $1 million due to an extraordinary gift from an Anonymous Donor. The Justice Fund provides a continuous stream of funding for Bar Foundation grants. The Bar Foundation Board of Directors also selects the Bar Foundation Fellows, who are outstanding lawyers and members of the judiciary. Approximately 400 individuals have received this high honor out of more than 7,000 judges and lawyers in the state of West Virginia. The Fellows have joint activities with the state’s members of the American Bar Foundation Fellows, since most ABF Fellows are also WV Bar Foundation Fellows. In addition, the Bar Foundation sponsors programs and activities relating to the legal system, such as the very successful fundraiser, “Lunch and Laughs with a Legal Legend” and the Lawyer Leadership Institute for newer lawyers. Our fifteen member Board, a diverse group of lawyers and members of the judiciary from all parts of the state and all types of law practice, governs in a most effective and efficient manner by instituting the necessary plans and policies for our striving organization. As an IRS Section 501(c)(3) approved charitable entity, the Bar Foundation accepts tax deductible donations that enable our organization to meet its important responsibilities and opportunities. Our annual independent audit and Form 990 are placed on this website for your review. We encourage you to become a regular and frequent user of our fine website to learn more about the important services and benefits of our organization. Thank you for your cooperation and consideration. Lucien Lewin, Esq. – President

Bar Foundation GrantsThe Bar Foundation Board of Directors provides grants to worthwhile nonprofit entities to improve the administration of justice and the provision of legal services to West Virginia’s citizens. In 2020, the Bar Foundation Board of Directors approved a grant to Mountain State Justice, the statewide organization which provides significant litigation and civil legal services to underserved West Virginians. In the photo above, Bar Foundation Board member, WVU College of Law Professor Marjorie McDiarmid, on the left, discusses the benefits from the grant funds with Mountain State Justice staff members in their Morgantown office. From left to right are, Office Manager Brandie Huff, Attorney Michael Nissim-Sabat, and Paralegals Emily Lopez and Blue Sullivan. The grant stated that many West Virginians are not aware of services that are available to them due to limited outreach through materials and training sessions that focus on people with limited English proficiency or those with substantial hearing or sight impairment. Federal government figures show that approximately 350,000 state citizens have a vision or hearing disability. In addition, more than 47,000 West Virginians speak a language other than English in their homes. The grant funds have been utilized for interpretation services for client meetings, translation of legal documents, utilization of online accessibility services and translation of outreach materials. The COVID-19 virus pandemic delayed more specific immigration outreach, but a "know your rights training", by video, was set with individual consultations following via remote means.

Lawyer Leadership InstituteThe Bar Foundation hosted the eighth Lawyer Leadership Institute on May 10-12, at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV. Pictured above are two of the excellent speakers, Brenda Waugh (Martinsburg) and Elliot Hicks (Charleston) as they make their presentation on Lawyer Wellbeing to the younger upcoming lawyer leaders who represented diverse law practices and came from various parts of the state. This always successful event was sponsored by Antero Resources. The Institute's objective is to provide newer lawyers with specific education and professional training that will enable them to become leaders in the legal profession, in their communities and in the State. The speakers are well known and well respected West Virginia judges and lawyers.

Lunch and LaughsOn October 23, a special Lunch and Laughs With A Legal Legend event was held to honor two legal legends-Ellie and Ed Flowers. Pictured above at the Lunch, from left to right, are presenter Law School Professor Emeritus Jack Bowman, Master of Ceremonies Ellen Cappellanti, presenter WVU President Gordon Gee, Ellie and Ed Flowers, presenter former Career Services Director Dr. Carroll Morrison and Bar Foundation President Harry "Chip" Shaffer. Because of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, a small socially distanced and masked group of Flowers' family and close friends attended the Lunch in person at the Erickson Alumni Center in Morgantown where they were joined by a few Sponsor/Contributor representatives. Able to participate virtually were almost 100 judges, lawyers and community leaders from all over West Virginia and several states, who witnessed an enjoyable blend of humorous and poignant episodes from the lives of these two legends in the legal profession and the judicial system. A surprise guest was U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, who was at the top of the list of Flowers' invitees, and planned to attend in person. However, duties at the Nation's Capitol forced her to send a personal video message on the day before the Lunch that was shown during the Lunch. All the presenters' remarks centered on Ellie's distinguished service as the Assistant Dean for Career Services at the WVU College of Law for more than 20 years where she advised and guided thousands of judges and lawyers as they began their lives in the legal profession and the judicial system, and on Ed's leadership positions in WV as a practicing lawyer, a top state government official, a Supreme Court Justice, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge and a WVU Vice President. He was selected as a Bar Foundation Fellow several years ago. The Flowers selected the Black Law Students Association and the Career Services Center at the WVU College of Law to receive the net proceeds from the Lunch and Laughs in combination with the Bar Foundation grants program. Click here to view the lunch video

25th Annual WV Bar Foundation Fellows DinnerOn Thursday, April 20, 2023, the WV Bar Foundation celebrated its 25th Annual Fellows Dinner. Congratulations to the newly-inducted West Virginia Bar Foundation Fellows – Those attorneys and judges whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession with the individuals selected reflecting the diverse nature of the legal profession in West Virginia. The 2023 Fellows are: Judge Anita Harold Ashley, Spencer Judge H. Charles Carl, III, Romney Judge Perri Jo DeChristopher, Morgantown Susan Llewellyn Deniker, Bridgeport Dana F. Eddy, Charleston J. Kevin Ellis, Morgantown Elizabeth Osenton Lord, Charleston John R. Merinar, Jr., Bridgeport Larry J. Rector, Bridgeport Dean Amelia Smith Rinehart, Morgantown Shannon P. Smith, Morgantown Gloria M. Stephens, Welch Chief Justice Elizabeth D. Walker, Charleston Rodney C. Windom, Harrisville

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The Bar Foundation provides grants to worthwhile charitable entities that improve the administration of justice and the provision of legal services for the men, women and children in West Virginia. Grant applications are considered during the quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors. Please review the grant form here.

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