By Anna Moore
Photo by WVU College of Law.
Within West Virginia’s 55 counties are countless individuals advocating for justice in courts of law and legal organizations. Others are helping equip the next generation of lawyers and leaders in the state’s only law school—West Virginia University (WVU) College of Law. Some also help companies with legal matters. Their desire to serve others is a calling to allow individuals to seek justice, have a voice and be treated fairly under the ethics and statutes of law. Without these leaders paving the way for our future, the end result would be very different.
To honor those who have dedicated their lives to advocate for the rights of others, West Virginia Executive (WVE), in partnership with WVU College of Law, created the Lawyers & Leaders award program in 2017 to showcase the impactful work being done by leaders in the legal community. Each award winner in the Class of 2023 makes an impact in their position, whether as an attorney, an advocate for social justice, a judge, a law educator or even a law school graduate showing promise.
“Now in its seventh year, the WVU College of Law’s partnership with WVE to honor West Virginia’s Lawyers & Leaders recognizes the accomplished legal professionals who positively and significantly impact our state and our nation,” says Amelia Smith Rinehart, William J. Maier Jr. Dean of WVU College of Law. “These award recipients have dedicated their careers to improving the lives of others through service, making their communities better places to work and live and going far beyond what is expected of them at every turn. We are so grateful for their work and honored to highlight their achievements in this way.”
Each member of this class either serves the legal community in the state of West Virginia, is a graduate of WVU College of Law or both. WVE is thrilled to introduce the Lawyers & Leaders Class of 2023.
If you know a lawyer who is making an impact in their career and community and either works in West Virginia or is a graduate of WVU College of Law, nominate them for next year’s class. Nominations are accepted year-round and can be submitted at wvexecutive.com/lawyers-leaders.
Meet the 2023 class of Lawyers & Leaders.
