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WVU Law students are working in public service this summer

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.—This summer, 25 WVU Law students are practicing public interest law across West Virginia.

As Public Interest Advocates Summer Fellows, these students are working in full-time, paid positions for 10 weeks serving the poor, the elderly, children, and victims of domestic violence, among others. They are gaining valuable experience in children’s advocacy, civil rights, consumer law, disability rights, and land use and conservation law.

PIA is a WVU Law student group that raises money to support the nonprofit West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest. Each year, the WVFLIPI sponsors paid summer fellowships that make it possible for WVU Law students to work for public interest law organizations throughout the state.

“PIA fellowships benefit the organizations who host our fellows and the clients they serve,” said Jennifer Powell, PIA advisor and executive director of WVFLIPI. “Fellows help give access to justice to so many West Virginians who could not otherwise afford a lawyer. Fellowships supported by PIA and the Fund have also helped launch hundreds of law students’ careers and inspired many to work in public interest law and provide pro bono legal services once they become lawyers.”

The following WVU Law students are 2019 Public Interest Advocates Summer Fellows:

Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic
(Based in Morgantown but working state-wide.)
Bob Gardner
Austin Rogers
Ryan Combs
Erin O’Brien
Samantha Willis

WVU Law 2019 Land Use clinic PIA Fellows

Disability Rights of West Virginia
MacKenzie Hardin, Clarksburg
Olivia Haught, Charleston

ChildLaw Services
(Based in Princeton but travel throughout the southern part of the state working on cases.) 
Eliza Cercone
Daja Elliott

Senior Legal Aid
(Based in Morgantown but serving all 55 counties in West Virginia.)
Kayla Aungst

ACLU of WV
(Based in Charleston.)
Jordan Dishong
Sam Johnson

Mountain State Justice
(Based in Morgantown.)
Laura Davidson
Sandra Walls

WVU Law 2019 PIA Fellows Mountain State Justice

Legal Aid of West Virginia
Shannon Marlowe, Morgantown
Sarah Petitto, Clarksburg
Katie Murray, Clarksburg
Kendra Ricer, Parkersburg
Emily Isaacs, Lewisburg
Emily Neely, Martinsburg
Jenny Cochran, Charleston
Abigail Cadle, Charleston

WVU Law 2019 Legal Aid of WV PIA Fellow

Sprouse Fellows
Tiffany Kent, Harrison County Public Defender
Brittany Dolan, Harrison County Public Defender
Bobby Chambers, Federal Public Defender, Northern District of West Virginia

-WVU-

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