Our History
1878
WVU College of Law is founded and is the first professional school in West Virginia. Classes are held in Woodburn Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus.
1879
William R. Thompson of Hinton, WV, receives his LLB from WVU College of Law, the first individual to receive an LLB from WVU.
1894
The West Virginia Law Review, the 4th-oldest law review in the country, is founded.
1895
WVU College of Law graduates its first female, Agnes Westbrook Morrison. West Virginia is one of the earliest states to educate women in law and admit them to the bar.
1914
The College of Law is admitted to membership in the Association of American Law Schools.
1923
WVU College of Law moves into its new building on University Avenue, Colson Hall, and is fully accredited by the ABA (and has remained fully accredited since 1923).
1925
West Virginia University Chapter of the Order of the Coif is installed to recognize the top 10% of the graduating law school class and is the highest academic honor a law student can achieve.
1926
Mr. George C. Baker’s donation to the College of Law begins the Baker Cup Competition that is held each spring at the College of Law.
1949
Charles E. Price is the first African-American to graduate from the WVU College of Law.
Late 1960s
The open admission policy ends, and the Law School Admission Test becomes an ABA-required part of law school admission.
1969
The Morgantown Country Club closes, and the land is acquired by WVU to become home to the new WVU College of Law facility.
1974
The College of Law moves into its new Evansdale Campus home built on the back nine of the old Morgantown Golf and Country Club.
1976
Marye L. Wright is the first African American woman to graduate from the College of Law.
1979
E. Gordon Gee is named Dean of the College of Law. A year later, he is appointed President of WVU for the first time, serving in that role until 1985.
1989
Graduates of the College of Law are required to take and pass the West Virginia Bar Examination; West Virginia “diploma privilege” ends.
1990
West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals hears cases in the Lugar Courtroom at the College of Law, the first time the Supreme Court of Appeals has heard cases outside Charleston since 1914. It is now an annual tradition.
1993
Teree Foster becomes the first woman to be selected as Dean of the College of Law.
1995
WVU graduate, David C. Hardesty, Jr., becomes the 21st president of West Virginia University and receives an academic appointment as a member of the College of Law faculty.
2003
West Virginia College of Law celebrates its 125th year.
2011
The Center for Energy and Sustainable Development and the Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic are established at the WVU College of Law.
2012
The College of Law breaks ground on what becomes a $28 million expansion and renovation project.
2013
The College of Law receives the largest capital gift in its history as part of the State of Minds campaign: $7.5 million from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust.
2014
WVU welcomes former College of Law Dean and president, E. Gordon Gee, for his second tenure as president of West Virginia University.
2020
College of Law receives $1.5 million gift from the Fitzsimmons Foundation to establish the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy.
2025
WVU Law Order of the Coif Chapter celebrates 100th year, and WVU welcomes 27th president, Michael T. Benson.