Teaching Professor
Director, Child & Family Advocacy Law Clinic
Biography
Suzanne Weise is a graduate of Boston University (B.A., 1983) and the West Virginia University College of Law (J.D., 1986). Professor Weise served as a law clerk for West Virginia Public Service Commissioner Otis T. Casto (1986-1989). Subsequently, she served as law clerk for Justice Thomas B. Miller (1989-1990) and Justice Thomas E. McHugh (1990-1994) of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.
From 1994 until 2009, Professor Weise engaged in a diverse general practice of law, primarily as a litigator representing clients in matters involving property rights, contracts, environmental law, public access to information, administrative law, and family law. In 2009, Professor Weise began teaching at WVU Law as an adjunct supervising attorney (WVU General Law Clinic) and an instructor of legal reasoning, research and writing. In 2010, Professor Weise joined the newly established WVU College of Law Child and Family Advocacy Law Clinic as a supervising attorney.
Professor Weise served as a member of the Governor’s Independent Investigation team reviewing the 2006 Sago Mine explosion that caused the deaths of 12 West Virginia miners. More recently, Prof. Weise was a member of the Governor’s Independent Investigation Panel investigating the April 5, 2010, explosion of the Upper Big Branch Mine that killed 29 West Virginia miners.
Professor Weise is the co-author of “Open Government Guide: Open Records and Meetings Laws in West Virginia” (The Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press 2001, 2006, 2011 eds.)
In 2000, Professor Weise was recognized by the Public Justice Foundation for winning exceptional victories for the public interest for pro bono representation of clients in a landmark environmental law case. In 2022, she was selected a Fellow of the West Virginia Bar Foundation for her dedication to the welfare of the community and service to the profession.
