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MORGANTOWN - The newly-established Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy at the West Virginia University College of Law will provide additional opportunities for students to enhance essential lawyering skills-including understanding and analyzing the applicable substantive and procedural law while translating that knowledge into effective written and oral advocacy during the litigation process.
Wheeling-based Fitzsimmons Law Firm announced that the Fitzsimmons Foundation has pledged a gift of $1.25 million to establish the center, which will have the goal to train law students to become effective legal advocates by enhancing and expanding the litigation and advocacy curriculum at the College.
As part of the gift, the College of Law's event hall is being named the Fitzsimmons Hall.
WVU President Gordon Gee praised the gift.
"To educate our future leaders and fulfill our mission to serve the public good, West Virginia University depends on partners like the Fitzsimmons family," Gee said.
"Their vision and the generosity of their gift to the College of Law will help improve our justice system and make our communities -- and the world -- a better place."
Jessica Haught, teaching professor and interim associate dean for Administration, will serve as director of the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy.
She will work with her colleagues to develop courses and assist adjunct faculty with transferring their professional training and experiences to the classroom.
A new Legal Advocacy Fellow will assist in curriculum development and course delivery.
"Litigation and advocacy are key skills in the practice of law and with the creation of the Fitzsimmons Center for Litigation and Advocacy, generations of aspiring trial lawyers and litigators will now be able to receive more top level education and training in those areas here at WVU," said Clayton Fitzsimmons, one of the owners and managing members of the law firm.
"We are also confident that the Center will further WVU's College of Law's standing as a national leader in legal education and serve to promote the practice of law in West Virginia and beyond," added Rocky Fitzsimmons, also an owner and managing member of the firm.
The gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of West Virginia University.