Law firm Wooton, Davis, Hussell & Ellis, PLLC, with offices in Beckley, Charleston and Lewisburg, WV, recently made headlines when West Virginia University’s College of Law approached them for help with a veteran’s initiative. The college sought donations to help fund a full-time Fellow who would provide free legal assistance to veterans out of the Veteran’s Advocacy Law Clinic located in Beckley, WV.
Going beyond expectation, WDHE, PLLC pledged $60,000 over the next two years to ensure veterans in southern West Virginia receive the civil and administrative law support they need.
“Our firm has maintained longtime ties to the veteran community,” partner Jody Wooton says. “My dad founded the firm with that principal in mind, and his mom, my grandmother, worked at the VA for more than thirty years.”
For Chris Davis, a partner serving the Beckley, WV area, veterans advocacy is particularly close to his heart. “My family is full of vets,” he says.
That allegiance has led Davis to serve as an honorary board member and legal counsel for the Hershel Woody Williams Medal of Honor Foundation which provides support to Gold Star families and children.
In response to WDHE’s recent pledge, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams said, “Chris has been so very helpful to our foundation and to veterans. He and his partners’ service to our state is beyond commendable.”
WDHE’s financial assistance will mean more of West Virginia’s 170,000 veterans will have access to legal support with issues such as disability, pension and healthcare benefits, as well as education, employment and housing programs.
“One of the remarkable characteristics of lawyers is that they are willing to take the lead and offer assistance when and where it is needed,” Gregory Bowman, dean of the College of Law, said in press statement.
“Our veterans have sacrificed so much. It’s really a matter of duty that we help fill the void in the resources available to them after their service to our country,” Wooton says.
To learn more about the services offered by the Veteran’s Advocacy Law Clinic, contact WVU’s assistant dean for development, Jennie James at jennie.james@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-7367.
To contact Wooton, Davis, Hussell & Ellis, PLLC. visit www.wwdhe.com or call 304-345-4611.
