Teaching Professor of Law, Director of the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy and Co-Director of the Legal Writing Program, WVU College of Law
Photo by Kaelyn Pavlick
By Sabrina McClure
As a child, Jessica Haught, West Virginia University (WVU) College of Law teaching professor, director of the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy and co-director of the Legal Writing Program, dreamed of becoming a writer. It’s that love of writing and telling a compelling story that led her to law school and to eventually becoming a professor at WVU College of Law.
Haught was born in New Martinsville, WV, and grew up across the Ohio River in Sardis, Ohio, with her parents and three brothers. Her father was an educator and school administrator, and her mother was a homemaker.
“I am very blessed to have had such a loving and supportive family,” she says.
Haught attended Bethany College in Bethany, WV, where she studied political science and economics. After earning her undergraduate degree, she worked as a paralegal for the Federal Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. During that time, she worked on several trials and decided she wanted to apply to law school.
“I learned that a strong case turns on telling a compelling and persuasive story, and a solid team of professionals is needed to successfully manage a case from the start through trial,” she says.
Throughout law school, Haught enjoyed the legal writing and oral argument classes the most as well as preparing for moot court competitions.
“Preparing the briefs and arguing in various moot court competitions, including the Baker Cup and the Moot Court National Team, were the highlights of law school,” she says. “I enjoyed putting the written and oral advocacy skills I was learning into practice, and the daily class preparation for the Socratic-style of teaching helped me to anticipate and respond to questions from the bench in those competitions.”
Haught graduated from the WVU College of Law in 2004 and began working as a litigation associate at Reed Smith, LLP in Pittsburgh, where she became adept at managing the varying expectations of clients and partners at the firm.
“I quickly learned to know my audience and adapt my work product to different styles and expectations,” says Haught.
She also worked as a law clerk to federal district court Judge Gary Lancaster in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
“Judge Lancaster mentored me and built my confidence as a legal writer,” Haught says. “He always reminded me that great legal writing is clear, concise and understandable, even to a non-lawyer.”
After that, Haught served as an adjunct legal writing professor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, which she says solidified her desire to transition from practicing law to teaching.
“After one semester of teaching, I knew I wanted to translate my practical litigation experience into the classroom to help students develop foundational legal analysis and writing skills,” she says.
Haught now teaches at WVU College of Law and is passionate about her work at the university. She is helping shape new lawyers by providing support and guidance while also being able to support the bench and the bar. She has been involved in creating curriculum and Continuing Legal Education programs for several groups throughout the state.
“My work gives me a unique opportunity and perspective to think about ways to support both new and experienced practitioners as they adapt to the ever-changing nature of the practice of law throughout the state,” she says. “Also, speaking with the bench and the bar and maintaining those professional relationships has allowed me to hear about the day-to-day challenges of the practice of law and develop curriculum to help new lawyers to be successful and meet those challenges.”
In addition to teaching, Haught has had several administrative roles managing departments, programs and staff.
“Managing multiple teams and priorities can be challenging, but it is also very rewarding when we work collectively to solve problems or create opportunities for students,” she says. “I am very lucky to work with amazing colleagues who are dedicated to making the law school a community that values service to our students and the state. Our students at the College of Law are incredible. I am so grateful to teach and mentor them as they develop the foundational analytical and communication skills to practice law and to be solution-oriented leaders in their communities.”
Haught currently serves on the West Virginia State Bar Abuse and Neglect Committee and the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia abuse and neglect task force.
“Giving back to organizations and causes provides opportunities to have a lasting and meaningful impact in our communities,” she says. “Supporting underserved communities and causes are particularly important. Organizations that support children and families are priorities to me.”
Mentoring current and former law students is an important part of Haught’s personal and professional life as she knows from experience how impactful having support at different parts of your life and career can be. Her brother, Tim, has been one of her greatest supporters and mentors.
“When I was struggling in law school, studying for the bar exam or preparing for my first deposition, Tim coached me through all those challenges and many more,” she says. “He is an exceptional lawyer and community leader. His example of service and dedication to his clients and the people of his community is an inspiration.”
For her service and leadership, Haught has received several Mountaineer Values Coins, which are awarded to faculty and staff who go above and beyond and embody the Mountaineer values of WVU. However, she received her greatest honor in 2020 when she received a student-nominated award.
“During the spring semester of 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, I was nominated by students for a university-wide teaching award,” Haught says. “This award is very special to me because of the student nominations and comments where students expressed that they felt genuinely supported in their learning and overall well-being during a very challenging time.”
She attributes her success to her upbringing and her participation in team sports throughout college.
“Being community minded and serving others is a core value instilled in me by my parents,” she says. “I look for opportunities to serve and support others because so many people have supported me. Creating inclusive spaces for shared empathy, compassion and support is how communities grow and change for the better. I learned from an early age to look for opportunities to help others and to always put in the work and effort, no matter how big or small the project.”
Haught proudly resides in Morgantown, WV, with her husband and son, where they enjoy attending Mountaineer sporting events and being close to family and outdoor activities.
“Living and working in West Virginia is an opportunity to give back to the communities and people who make this state great,” she says.
