Public Service
Center for Law and Public Service
The West Virginia Bar has a proud tradition of pro bono service. Although law students do not formally undertake obligations to provide pro bono service until admission to the bar, the College of Law established the Center for Law and Public Service, and charged the Center with the task of developing and administering a public service program for the college. The projects provide a range of public service opportunities from tax to family law. Those who participate in the program gain knowledge and skills of lasting professional benefit, but more importantly, they receive the enormous personal reward that comes from helping the less fortunate.
Clinical Law Program
The Clinical Law Program offers an opportunity to qualified third-year law students to represent clients under faculty supervision. The objective of the clinic is to expose students to all phases of lawyering, client interviewing, and counseling; advocacy in trial courts, before administrative tribunals and in appellate contexts; drafting of briefs and pleadings; negotiating; and other skills. Heavy emphasis is placed on the development of the lawyer role with particular attention to the Rules of Professional Responsibility.
Public Interest Advocates
The PIA exists to sponsor summer fellowships and other opportunities for WVU law students in the public interest field and to promote interest in public interest lawyering.