Leading the West Virginia State Bar

Kevin Baker, born and raised in Beckley, WV, proudly assumed the role of executive director of the West Virginia State Bar on January 1, 2026. As executive director, Baker oversees and executes the mission of the state bar: to regulate, supervise and control the practice of law in West Virginia for the benefit and interest of the state and its citizens.

Can you walk us through your experience before becoming executive director of the West Virginia State Bar and how that experience has prepared you for this role?

After graduating from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, I worked for one year on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and then attended American University’s Washington College of Law. Following law school, I moved home to West Virginia. I began my legal career as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Goodwin before starting a private law practice. While in private practice, I had the opportunity to work as a per diem attorney for the West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee. After two legislative sessions, I accepted a full-time job with the Senate, closed my law practice and worked for the West Virginia Legislature for the next seven years. Following my work at the Legislature, I became the city attorney for Charleston, WV.

All of this has prepared me for the job of executive director of the West Virginia State Bar. In this role, I get to support and serve all attorneys in our state as well as work on the relationship between the bar and the public.

What motivated you to apply for the executive director position with the West Virginia State Bar? Who or what inspired you to pursue this opportunity?

My wife, Sarah Brown, who is also an attorney and my biggest supporter, was the first person who saw the listing and encouraged me to apply for the job. Importantly, it was also a good time with my work at the City of Charleston to be able to step away and let a new city attorney step forward. Working with all the attorneys in our state in a public service role that allows me to help improve the legal landscape in West Virginia is a dream opportunity for me.

As a native West Virginian, how has your connection to the state influenced your career path and shaped your approach to leading the bar?

I had great joy working both indirectly to help the people of West Virginia by working on legislation and directly to help the people of Charleston by working on tangible projects improving the city. At the bar, I get to do the same thing. The bar’s work supporting attorneys indirectly helps the public by giving attorneys more tools to provide direct legal services to their clients. The bar also has a direct impact on the public through its assistance in various programs, public education and overall efforts to improve the relationship between the courts, the bar and the public.

What were your priorities during your first days as executive director of the state bar, and what opportunities do you see ahead for the organization?

My priority since starting as executive director has been to help make decisions that provide the most and best resources and services to West Virginia attorneys. I want to create a member benefit package that gives West Virginia attorneys access to the tools they need to operate a solo or small law firm, as well as support our larger firms and government employees with tangible and helpful resources. These benefits will undoubtedly change over time, but getting a solid package that is reviewed regularly is imperative. Looking ahead, I see these benefits moving beyond traditional research tools and interest on lawyers’ trust accounts management to include health care benefits options, emerging artificial intelligence technologies and technology support. I acknowledge that I do not have all the answers for what attorneys need or want from the bar, but I am committed to making myself available for conversations, both formal and informal, to gain more input from the bar and work collaboratively with folks to move new ideas and projects forward.

How do you use your leadership skills to support attorneys and ensure access to justice in the community?

A huge impediment to access is the fact that we do not have enough attorneys in our state. In many cities throughout West Virginia, attorneys who have served their communities for years are retiring, and we do not have enough new attorneys coming in to do the work. Small town attorneys are invaluable in a community. Not only do they help people with a variety of legal issues that walk through the door but they act as informal mediators to resolve local problems, serve on community boards and associations and are looked to in the community as leaders in a host of different arenas. One of my primary focuses is to help get more attorneys working in areas of West Virginia that are in need.

What advice would you give to a first-year associate?

Having a solo law practice is an achievable goal. Jumping into private practice can seem daunting, but there are hundreds of attorneys doing that work in West Virginia now, and the need for more attorneys doing that type of work is high, especially in areas outside of our largest communities. The bar provides resources to help assist attorneys in practice, and we are always looking to enhance those resources to make it easier for someone to start a law practice and be a solo practitioner. Another piece of advice is to ask questions. West Virginia attorneys are happy to help and provide guidance. While we do not have formal mentorship currently, our West Virginia attorneys are very willing mentors. Call your colleagues, talk to them about challenges in your work and do not be afraid to co-counsel a case with another attorney.