Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic

We protect and improve the quality of life in West Virginia through land use planning, land conservation, and education.

Areas of Work

Mission

Provide legal and planning services to conserve land and water, support local land use planning, and offer educational opportunities for law students and citizens of West Virginia.

Collaboration

Recognizing that collaboration is essential to achieving the greatest good in improving the quality of life of West Virginians, the Land Use Law Clinic is committed to developing partnerships involving community-based stakeholders and experts from various disciplines and professions to amplify our efforts.

IMPACT

2011

Founded

5,000+

Acres of WV land conserved

51 of 55

WV counties served

Student clinicians to date

1000+

Community meetings

Comprehensive plans adopted

Statewide conferences hosted

Public Interest Advocates Fellowships

100,000+

Miles traveled across WV

WV communities served

Regional conferences hosted

AmeriCorps Vistas

PROJECTS

The Land Use and Sustainable Development Law Clinic has supported nonprofit and government clients since 2011.

Find out more about our projects

Project highlights

Toms Run Preserve

The Clinic provided a land trust client with transactional work needed to expand a nature preserve. The 320-acre Toms Run Preserve near Morgantown is open to the public and protects drinking water and habitat. It is one of the Clinic's many land conservation success stories.

Dilapidated Buildings

The Clinic created a legal tool kit to help local governments convert dilapidated properties to productive use. The From Liability to Viability Toolkit toolkit is free.

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Flood Recovery

In summer 2016, historic floods devastated several West Virginia communities. The Clinic supported recovery efforts by developing comprehensive plans for the City of White Sulphur Springs and Town of Clendenin. The Clinic also rendered a variety of legal services on behalf of the Town of Hundred, the City of Richwood and on behalf of Appalachian Service Project for the Town of Rainelle.

Broadband in West Virginia

West Virginia ranks 44th among all states for internet connectivity, and only 39.3% of West Virginia residents have affordable internet access. To help remedy this problem, the Clinic has developed a free toolkit, Broadband in West Virginia: A Legal Guide for Local Governments.

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