Ashley M. Batten
Public Defender for Youth Clients, Public Defender Corporation for the 27th Judicial Circuit
Photo by Tiptoe Studios.
MCKENZIE STALNAKER
ASHLEY BATTEN, a passionate advocate for vulnerable youth in the legal system, grew up in the mountains of Harpers Ferry, WV, and took a different path from most to get where she is today.
Batten is the daughter of a dedicated union steamfitter and a passionate educator. From her father, she inherited a relentless work ethic and from her mother, a love of learning. She credits both parents for instilling in her the work ethic and resilience that has shaped her approach to life’ s challenges.
At a young age, Batten dreamed of being an actress, captivated by the art of storytelling and bringing characters to life. She and her brother, born just 21 months apart and the best of friends, immersed themselves in the world of child acting for seven years, appearing in films, commercials and theatre productions.
As she entered middle school, Batten’ s aspirations shifted, not immediately toward public defense but rather journalism. During her senior year, she served as the executive director of a student-run broadcasting station but soon became unsure of pursuing a career in journalism.
“ Journalism, as I came to realize, often requires reacting to life’ s events rather than shaping them. Since high school, I had found joy in being proactive by serving my community through various organizations. That realization made me question whether I would truly be happy in a reactive career,” she says.
This introspection ultimately led her to consider law. Determined to contribute meaningfully to her community, she secured a summer internship at a local law firm. It was there she encountered the practice of criminal defense.
“ I quickly fell in love with the opportunity to advocate for indigent individuals and provide legal representation to the most vulnerable,” she says.“ At that moment, I knew I wanted to practice law and leave broadcasting behind.”
For Batten, the path to law school did not begin with an application or a campus visit. As a first-generation college student, the entire process was unfamiliar territory. She didn’ t have mentors or family members who had walked that path before her, but she wasn’ t alone. With the unwavering support of her mother, she began researching how to navigate law school admissions and prepare for the LSAT.
During her senior year of college, Batten took the LSAT for the first time. Despite her diligent preparation, her severe test anxiety proved to be a barrier. Though she improved her score with a second attempt, it still wasn’ t enough to gain immediate admission into her top-choice law school, West Virginia University( WVU) College of Law.
She was waitlisted and ultimately received her rejection letter just one hour before walking across the stage at graduation. What should have been a joyful milestone was suddenly overshadowed by a deep disappointment and uncertainty of the future.
Rather than allow the setback to define her, Batten made a decision that would shape the next chapter of her life. She committed to reapplying to WVU Law, determined to revise her application with a fresh perspective and purpose.
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE