Guardian ad litem, Cathryn A. Nogay
Photo by Robin Rokisky.
By Katie Light
When Starting her legal career, Cathryn Nogay had no idea that civil child neglect and abuse cases would be the catalyst for her outstanding career. Today, her work as guardian ad litem at her own law firm reflects 38 years of assisting families and children in West Virginia.
“I first started practicing in Wheeling. At that time, judges would give young lawyers court-appointed cases, including abuse and neglect, to give us experience. I did not like doing criminal cases and had no aptitude for it,” Nogay explains. “Nevertheless, I did like representing children in abuse and neglect cases. Looking back now, I think to be a good guardian ad litem, you must wear many different hats. You have to, of course, be a lawyer but also a social worker, mother, therapist, cheerleader, advocate and friend.”
Graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business from West Liberty University, Nogay did not originally plan to become an attorney like her father and grandfather before her. In fact, it was not until college that she even began to consider a legal career.
“I had many different dream careers, from running a kindergarten out of a Partridge family style bus to being a stewardess or a fashion designer,” she says. “I realized that I was probably not going to be the next Coco Chanel and decided to pursue a career in law.”
Attending West Virginia University College of Law presented Nogay with many challenges. While there, however, she not only entered a rewarding profession but met her husband of almost 38 years. Graduating in 1984, Nogay started her career working for Robert Yahn as a sole practitioner at his general practice.
“Yahn was a wonderful mentor to me, and I think of him often,” says Nogay. “While working there, I was able to dip my toes into a number of fields of law that provided me with a well-rounded experience.”
Nogay worked with her mentor for the next four years until deciding to break away to start a family and become self-employed, choosing to work out of her home, which allowed her to spend quality time with her children as they grew up while still assisting other children in her efforts.
Over the course of her career, Nogay has served in many leadership roles for organizations across the state, including human rights hearing examiner for the state of West Virginia as well as a member of the Judicial Investigation Commission, Public Defender Services, New View Project for the Court Improvement Program and West Virginia State Bar character committee.
Her proudest accomplishment is something she holds close to her heart. Along with several other community members, Nogay helped to bring a child advocacy center to her home of Weirton, WV, to provide support and advocacy for children who are victims of abuse and neglect in Brooke and Hancock counties.
“Besides my own marriage and children, the Comfort House Child Advocacy Center is my greatest success,” Nogay says. “I wish I could give all the children I work for a happy, loving home. My parents gave me the opportunity to be my best self, and I want that for these children too. I have loved working with the children of my cases, and I am thrilled to see them thrive after representing them in their adolescence. Recently, one of my former clients approached me at an abuse and neglect conference. Upon speaking with her, she told me that she had become a Child Protective Services caseworker. I was so happy to see the lovely young woman she has become with a beautiful family—I could not be any prouder of her.”
Working in law as guardian ad litem has not always been easy for Nogay. There are trials and struggles with services that have the potential to help make a real difference in the lives of children across West Virginia.
“The biggest challenges I have faced are not related to my professional career. Rather, it is the lack of support and financial resources needed for the numerous services that could make a real change and impact the lives of families involved in these abuse and neglect cases,” Nogay says. “With that being said, I would stack the West Virginia Supreme Court up against other courts in this country for the work and attention that is given to improving the abuse and neglect system.”
Nogay believes her sense of responsibility and congeniality have contributed to her success and made a difference in why she chose this line of work.
“I was raised to be an empathetic person and sympathetic to the needs of others,” she says. “I try to live up to former President John F. Kennedy’s speech in which he said, ‘For those to whom much is given, much is required.’ I am not wealthy, but I have been blessed with good health, decent intellect and supportive friends, colleagues and family. I enjoy giving to causes that support children and local food banks. I like to support political candidates that work for the rights of women and children and create better tomorrows. Throughout my career, I have always done what I could to improve the lives of children and families and treat all of the participants in my cases with dignity and respect, regardless of their race, ethnicity, lot in life or disposition.”
Today, Nogay has shifted her practice focus to adoption and other similar cases. While splitting her time between Weirton and Pinehurst, NC, West Virginia will always remain home.
“Both my husband and I have family roots in West Virginia, and we never gave leaving a thought,” she says.
Nogay is not done yet. She is still working to become better as a practicing attorney to enact change.
“I am proud of my accomplishments and work in the legal field,” she says. “I work tirelessly to improve my legal skills every day and want to continue to work with integrity until I am ready to retire.”
