Graduation 2026: Abigail Paugh brings a lawyer’s-eye-view to social work

As the first graduate of West Virginia University’s hybrid J.D./M.S.W. program, Abigail Paugh is combining her skill sets to make a difference in the Mountain State.

It’s hard to earn a graduate degree. Now imagine earning two at once.

Abigail Paugh isn’t afraid of a challenge, though. The Martinsburg, West Virginia native is the first graduate of West Virginia University’s hybrid program combining a law degree with a master’s degree in social work.

“It was definitely challenging,” Paugh said. “The culture of social work is a lot different from law. At the same time, if I were just an attorney, I wouldn’t have the same perspective on my clients’ issues.”

Majoring in social work as an undergraduate, Paugh first planned to go into counseling. However, after visiting West Virginia’s capital for WVU Day at the Legislature, where University students, faculty, and staff meet with legislators and legislative aides, she became more interested in legal advocacy.

The timing couldn’t have been better. “I was debating whether I wanted to try law school, and then they announced the hybrid program. It was a sign that I was meant to do it.”

The relationship between social work and the law came alive in the WVU College of Law’s General Litigation Clinic. Through the clinic, Paugh served as a guardian ad litem in court, working with the clinic’s supervising attorney to represent children in abuse and neglect cases.

“You have to get your hands dirty to be the best attorney possible,” Paugh said. “There’s a huge difference between reading and learning the law and then actually figuring out how it’s applied in real life settings. I feel like some of my proudest moments have been in the clinic, feeling like I’ve really made an impact, especially with these GAL cases.

“I went and did a four-hour contested hearing between two parents, and I was the GAL. It makes you feel like you’re making a difference in a child’s life and standing up for someone who can’t stand up for themselves. You are their voice.”

That kind of high-stakes experiential learning demands as much from mentors as it does from students.

The good news? WVU has no shortage of great mentors to learn from. Assistant Dean for Student Services and Engagement Jennifer Powell and Teaching Associate Professor Jennifer Stephens made a big impact on Paugh.

“Dean Powell has an M.S.W. as well as a J.D.,” Paugh said, “So she’s been someone that I consult with a lot. And Professor Stephens has a lot of experience working in abuse and neglect and family law. She really stresses the importance of learning about these social issues and how it’s going to inform your practice.”

Now, heading into the legal world equipped with two graduate degrees, Paugh’s prepared to do important work helping West Virginia’s most vulnerable populations gain access to justice.

“I’ve learned that lawyers can benefit greatly from more social work training, because a lot of the legal issues clients have don’t exist in a vacuum,” Paugh said. “They often stem from other factors, like housing insecurity or domestic violence or the opioid crisis, and we need a lot of attorneys out here to represent people who may otherwise not get representation.

“Where there isn’t enough service for vulnerable populations, I want to provide it. That’s what I’m interested in.”

MEDIA CONTACT:

Andrew Marvin
Assistant Director of Communications and Marketing
WVU College of Law
andrew.marvin@mail.wvu.edu