West Virginia Fund for the Law in Public Interest and PIA 2007-2008
The WV Fund for Law in the Public Interest (WVFLIPI)
The Fund for the Public Interest consists of the board directors: one faculty member; two attorneys working for the Public Interest; and six students, three second years and three third year students. The Fund meets monthly to discuss future programs and current initiatives.
Public Interest Advocates (PIA)
PIA is a student organization at the college of law that works closely with the Fund for the Public Interest to help facilitate the candidate selection process. This organization supports the fund by conducting fund raising activities throughout the year, including a football raffle, online textbook sales, and the grand spring auction.
Fellowships
The Fund awards approximately seventeen PIA fellowships annually to West Virginia College of Law students through a completive selection process. Since it’s inception the Fund has placed 245 students who have helped public interest organizations including: Legal Aid of West Virginia, Senior Legal Aid, Mountain State Justice, The Public Defender’s Office, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and Child Law Services.
Typically every year three positions are endowed at the Public Defenders Office by X. These internships are particularly competitive due to the excellent hands on experience, and the chance to directly represent clients in litigation. These positions benefit Monongalia County, Preston County, and Kanawha County.
Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Law school graduates are faced with rising education debt. Even the most dedicated are unable to take lower-paying public interest jobs. Recognizing the importance of law student debt relief, the Fund started a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to ensure that WVU graduates will be financially able to pursue careers in public interest. The program covers the educational debt payments of bright, energetic, talented, WVU graduates who enter public interest employment in West Virginia.
