MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A $25,000 fund has been created to support West Virginia University College of Law students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Law Student Emergency Relief Program is made possible by a gift from AccessLex Institute and facilitated by the West Virginia Bar Foundation. It provides grants to second- and third-year law students experiencing immediate financial distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will help students offset their living expenses as they navigate unforeseen circumstances such as a delay of the bar exam or loss of employment.
“The long-term effects of this pandemic won’t be known for many years,” said Christopher P. Chapman, AccessLex president and chief executive officer, “but we hope that by allaying some of the immediate financial concerns of law students who were impacted so unexpectedly, we can help them stay focused on their educational pursuits. We are happy to offer this support to the law students of West Virginia Univeristy.”
To receive emergency funds, WVU Law students must apply to the West Virginia Bar Foundation by July 3. Students have been notified of the application procedure.
“For many years, the Bar Foundation has provided grants for student scholarships, student legal clinics and student educational travel abroad programs at WVU Law,” said Tom Tinder, executive director of the West Virginia Bar Foundation. “This Pandemic Emergency Fund is just the latest opportunity for the Bar Foundation to support the future leaders of our state’s legal profession and judiciary.”
About the AccessLex Institute
Founded in 1983, AccessLex Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to the betterment of legal education. It is committed to informing students of the economic realities of law school without limiting their aspirations. AccessLex conducts and commissions research to illuminate the latest data and evidence on the most critical issues facing legal education today. The institute also appeals to policymakers and influencers to take actions that make legal education work better for both students and society at large.
About the West Virginia Bar Foundation
The West Virginia Bar Foundation is the philanthropic organization for the legal profession and justice system in West Virginia. It supports organizations that provide legal services to low-income citizens and improve access to justice. It also sponsors programs and activities relating to the legal system. Each year, the organization awards its Public Service Scholarship to a WVU Law student.
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