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West Virginia’s Legal Desert Crisis | Charleston News
West Virginia’s legal system is in crisis as a severe shortage of lawyers—especially for court-appointed cases—threatens justice across the state. With attorney numbers down 9% over 12 years while demand for legal aid, particularly in child abuse cases, has skyrocketed, 46 of 55 counties now qualify as “legal deserts.” Judges struggle to schedule hearings, and nearly a quarter of private attorneys plan to retire within five years. Chief Justice Haley Bunn is pushing to revitalize rural legal practice through financial incentives and partnerships with WVU Law to connect new grads with solo…
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