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