This has been a breakthrough week for immigration law at WVU!

Prospective students tell our faculty and staff they want a law school where they can grow into change-making immigration lawyers. Students know that noncitizens need quality counsel, and they want to be part of the solution.

We’re putting the final touches on our immigration law program, delivering all the skills and experience that law students want so they can connect with the clients who need their passion and sense of purpose.

2L Year: WVU Immigration Law fundamentals Curriculum

After studying legal fundamentals in their first year, students in their 2L year can acquire the first subject-specific building blocks for immigration law practice.

In the foundational Immigration Law course, students will learn key concepts and cases but also — even more important for a practicing lawyer — get training in the nuts and bolts of immigration practice, including simulated exercises. The class, taught by skilled practitioner and gifted teacher Lesley Yost, introduces all types of immigration practice, from family-based and employment-based to humanitarian and removal defense.

WVU Law students are also required to take Administrative Law in their 2L year — that boring-sounding class that conceals the ninja toolkit lawyers use in all those litigation battles surrounding each administration’s immigration policies.

3L Year: WVU Immigration Law Clinic

In their third year, students who’ve taken both classes can spend a year practicing immigration law under the supervision of Lesley and me. Students will take a two-hour immigration seminar in the fall semester that coaches them through skills they don’t teach you anywhere else in law school — like how to develop a case theory with punch, how to draft and format and file motions that satisfy court rules, how to work with people who’ve experienced trauma, and how to use immigration law practice as fuel for finding your best self.

At the same time, students will each tackle one or two humanitarian or family-based cases of their own, and will work with a partner to try a case in immigration court. In the spring semester, students will focus primarily on case work, with occasional class meetings for case rounds and special projects.

Post-Graduation: IJC Fellowships in West Virginia

Looking beyond graduation, starting next year, Immigrant Justice Corps will sponsor several two-year immigration law fellowships in West Virginia. Fellows will represent unaccompanied minors in state court and immigration proceedings, working within host organizations and integrating into their immigration or family law practices.

And I’m delighted to announce the WVU Immigration Law Clinic plans to host IJC Fellows next year and beyond! I’m looking forward to welcoming the first IJC Fellows to our WVU Law community next year and to supporting the development of the immigration bar in the state.

No unaccompanied Child Left Behind

Noncitizens — especially kids — are already here in West Virginia. And in our legal system, everyone deserves quality counsel and a fair day in court.

Prospective law students from West Virginia — and other students looking for a quality legal education at a reasonable cost — want to make sure no one, especially a child, has to face the power of the government by themselves.

Together, we can put it all together and really make a difference!