Member, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Photo by Rick Lee.
By Megan Bevins
Shawn Angus Morgan, now a member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, experienced a quiet upbringing as the eldest of four children in the rural community of Apple Grove in southern Mason County.
Morgan initially did not consider a law career. At first, because she liked equally her high school anatomy and physiology classes and 4-H public speaking opportunities, she thought she might seek public office or become a doctor.
“There’s a fun picture of me at 4-H camp when I was about 11 or 12 years old,” she says. “My mom had made me a t-shirt with iron-on letters that said, ‘A Woman’s Place is in the House…,’ on the front and ‘…and In the Senate’ on the back. That remains a true statement. Although, I have not campaigned for office since I sought a student board of governors role in Morgantown.”
In 1991, Morgan graduated from West Virginia University (WVU) with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts. In addition to her student government role in college, she spent her time marching with the Pride of West Virginia and participating as a member of Delta Delta Delta, a women’s fraternity, where she served on the university’s Panhellenic Council, eventually becoming council president.
Morgan decided to stay in Morgantown for graduate school. When she first applied to the WVU College of Law, she wasn’t sure she would be accepted and even had a backup plan of pursuing a master’s degree in public administration. However, she soon received her acceptance letter and was able to put those fears to rest.
“Maybe it’s because 30 years have passed since I graduated, but I remember law school fondly,” she says. “The first semester courses were eye-opening because I had little prior exposure to the law. Learning to grasp all that material was overwhelming in the beginning.”
Morgan enjoyed her more practical courses, such as trial advocacy, evidence and criminal and civil procedure. She liked moot court competitions and Professor Chuck DiSalvo’s bioethics seminar. An ethics class she took, taught by Professor Jack Bowman, was one of the most memorable, where she learned that law is more of a calling than a job and that significant responsibilities come with being a lawyer.
Over the past 30 years, Morgan has worked in several roles. Her first job as a public interest advocate fellow for Legal Aid of West Virginia taught her that every client should be heard and respected no matter their financial situation. She then began a position as an associate at Robinson & McElwee, where she learned through teamwork and working with more experienced lawyers.
Next, she clerked in the Clarksburg federal court for U.S. District Judge Irene Keeley, where she learned the importance of thorough preparation and how to write more persuasively. She then transitioned to working as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia.
“Working for the Department of Justice reinforced Professor Bowman’s advice that lawyers must do what is right at all times, and it allowed me the privilege of working with a great team of fellow prosecutors and law enforcement investigators,” she says. “All of those experiences led me to my current role at Steptoe & Johnson, where I’ve been fortunate to work for nearly 10 years now.”
At Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, where she serves as office managing member of the firm’s Bridgeport office, she handles civil litigation, regulatory compliance, white-collar defense and cybersecurity matters. She also helps clients address workplace crises by co-leading the Emergency Response Team.
“Our team coordinates with client representatives, governmental regulators, expert investigators, insurers and others,” Morgan says. “We might be on-site for hours, days or even weeks depending on the complexity of the situation.”
Her role at Steptoe & Johnson PLLC also provides her many opportunities for community service, as the firm encourages its employees to give back wherever they can. The firm hosts a firm-wide Community Day of Service, where staff perform a myriad of services such as beautifying the landscaping at the city pool, painting and assembling furniture and packing birthday boxes for children in foster care. The Bridgeport office packs and provides 500 lunches four times a year to veterans traveling out of town for medical treatment. Additionally, the firm hosts a weekly Jeans Day where staff can dress comfortably for a nominal donation to that week’s selected charity.
Morgan serves as chair of the Hotsinpiller Memorial Foundation, Inc., board member for the Harrison County Court Appointed Special Advocates, chair of the Bridgeport Police Civil Service Commission and one of multiple leaders for the Bridgeport Chiefs 4-H Club. She also participates in the West Virginia State Bar Women in the Profession committee, served as the Northern District of West Virginia’s Fourth Circuit Criminal Justice Act Appellate Panel representative and has held several offices for the Harrison County Bar Association, including president.
She attributes her success to her love of learning and willingness to keep an open mind and remain curious.
“Being unafraid of failure is also a big help. When you can look at a setback as a chance to grow and improve, that positive mindset leads to more and even greater opportunities.”
As a woman in law, Morgan has had to prove in professional settings that she is in fact one of the lawyers in the room. Because of this, she values diversity in her work and finds that inclusivity leads to better outcomes.
“It is important to me to volunteer in settings where girls and young women can see me as a lawyer, so they know no path is closed to them,” she says.
There have been a several mentors and influential people for Morgan throughout her career, including her mother and husband, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams and supported her every step of the way.
Morgan notes that Keeley has been a significant mentor to her as well, as she taught her not only how to improve her advocacy skills but also how to prioritize faith and family while finding success as a lawyer. She calls clerking for Keeley a career highlight.
She enjoys mentoring others, both as a 4-H leader and through presenting to the litigation and labor departments as part of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC’s professional development program.
“I am grateful to be able to help others and to try to repay the kindnesses that have been extended to me,” she says. “I will continue to strive to serve to improve opportunities for others. It’s part of the calling of being a lawyer.”
Morgan currently resides in Bridgeport and enjoys traveling and hiking with her family in her free time. She considers her family her greatest success and expresses her gratitude that she can share her life and career with them. She holds great admiration and respect for her city and state and loves practicing law in West Virginia.
“West Virginia is and always has been my home. It is the most beautiful place,” she says. “I can’t imagine living and working anywhere else. It means everything to make a difference in the place I love with the people I love.”
