CHARLESTON - Legal Aid of West Virginia recently gave law students the opportunity to help the legal community in West Virginia before they even receive a law degree.
The Fourth Annual Friend-Raiser allowed summer students, associates and interns to "step up to the plate" for Legal Aid at the program July 22 at the Appalachian Power Park, Director of Development Jennifer Jordan said.
The program is a networking and public relations event the has taken place the last four summers. It introduces summer fellows and law clerks to the rest of the legal community.
"It's meant to really implant in young students' minds, mostly law students, that Legal Aid is part of the legal community and they as attorneys have reputations to give back to Legal Aid of West Virginia," Jordan said.
This year, the participants heard from LAWV clients, former summer interns who talked about their summer experience and Joyce McConnell, the new dean of the West Virginia University College of Law.
Jordan said McConnell brought a message of teamwork and charity.
"We are all a team and it takes a team effort to provide legal services to vulnerable people," Jordan said in summarizing McConnell's message. "As a team we all have to give to Legal Aid in one way or another."
McConnell offered three ways to give back to LAWV: Working for Legal Aid, doing pro bono work and donating to the campaign for Legal Aid.
Jordan said the Charleston area is fortunate to get a heavy flow of law students that come to work in the summer.
"We believe it's really important to engrain them in the belief of giving back to Legal Aid," she said. "When they reach the point in their careers that they are able to write checks to charity, they need to give to Legal Aid."
The event was sponsored by Bowles, Rice, McDavid Graff & Love; The Segal Law Firm; Spilman, Thomas & Battle and Jackson Kelly.
Legal Aid of West Virginia advocates for low-income, vulnerable West Virginias, seeks equal access to justice, and creates system change in order to improve client safety, health, housing, income and access to resources.
