Kimberly Gray
WVU College of Law Class of 2025
Photo by Rachael Mullins.
TY MCCLUNG
FOR KIMBERLY GRAY, graduating from the West Virginia University( WVU) College of Law was the summit of a life defined by hard work, dedication and overcoming obstacles.
Her mother is a Peruvian immigrant and elementary school teacher in Jefferson County, and her father designs fire sprinkler systems. Gray says she and her family didn’ t have much, but her parents always stressed the value of an education.
“ My family didn’ t have much money growing up, which resulted in a lot of hardships, like food insecurity, cutting off utilities, foreclosure— you name it,” Gray says.“ This made education even more valuable. To succeed in your studies was essentially to be able to have security for your future.”
Gray says another important lesson from her parents was the feeling of mindful service.
“ As a child who grew up being on the receiving end of a stranger’ s kindness, I understand the true impact a simple act of service can have on a person’ s life, and it can be revolutionary to say the least,” Gray says.
She further explains that these two lessons led her to believe she had a calling to pursue a law degree.
Gray completed her undergraduate degree at WVU, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a pathway in professional writing and editing, along with a minor in forensic science. She was then accepted into WVU Law.
“ I was so grateful WVU Law was willing to give me a chance to pursue my dreams,” she says.“ I have grown so much in the past three years and am forever appreciative for the opportunity to do so.”
Gray was heavily involved with extracurricular activities and student organizations within the college of law, including serving as president of the Women’ s Leadership Council and vice president of the Public Interest Advocates, Community Service Council and West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest. She also participated in the Lugar Trial Association and served as a mediator for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Association. Gray says these student organizations greatly impacted her time in Morgantown.
“ Being involved beyond academics is so important for mental health and to make sure one’ s perspective is not overcome by the natural competitiveness law school emulates,” she says.“ I have been able to make connections with others I never would have made had it not been for my involvement with various student organizations.”
Gray says the type of law she wanted to practice changed throughout her time in school. Originally thinking she would be interested in criminal law, she eventually decided it wasn’ t for her and soon found her passion in helping children and families overcome challenges after an externship with a Guardian ad Litem and then an internship with the Abuse and Neglect Division in the Berkeley County Prosecutor’ s Office.
“ This experience reaffirmed my desire to continue practicing in the abuse and neglect field as I felt like I was making a true impact,” Gray says.
In her final year of law school, Gray continued working as an advocate through her role as a student attorney at the WVU Law General Litigation Clinic. She says her work with the clinic, which was all pro-bono, helped her gain valuable, first-hand experience helping those who may have nowhere else to turn.
“ It taught me there is value in representing the unrepresented and doing so is an attorney’ s true purpose,” Gray says.
Gray plans to stay in West Virginia and practice abuse and neglect law, having already taken a position as a staff attorney for the Office of Counsel to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. She believes there are simply too many people who need help but not enough legal professionals to help them.
“ West Virginia is in dire need of advocates,” she says.“ Yet, those advocates working with public interest organizations like ChildLaw Services, Legal Aid, Mountain State Justice and the Public Defender’ s Office are severely overworked and unsupported.”
Gray plans to start her new role in August after passing the West Virginia State Bar Exam. •
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