Jennifer Taylor

Jennifer Narog Taylor is a graduate of Fairmont State University (1978, 1984) and the West Virginia University College of Law (1987). She has worked as a general practitioner in Charleston, West Virginia in a variety of fields, including general litigation, civil rights, real estate, estate planning, and child abuse and neglect cases. She is a certified mediator and an administrative hearing examiner for various state agencies.

Jennifer was an adjunct professor at the West Virginia University College of Law for several years, teaching appellate advocacy, and worked 14 years as session counsel to the West Virginia House of Delegates. She served as Assistant General Counsel to the West Virginia State Treasurer and as General Counsel to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

In 2013, she joined Legal Aid of West Virginia part time, working as the ombudsman attorney with a special focus on financial exploitation and guardianship issues. She left LAWV in December 2021 to focus on her private practice and litigation. She is an active member of the West Virginia Task Force on Financial Exploitation, the American Bar Association WV WINGS program, the Coalition Against Domestic Violence Abuse in Later Life Task Force, and the West Virginia State Bar Elder Abuse Committee.

EDUCATION

West Virginia University College of Law Morgantown, West Virginia

Doctor of Jurisprudence – 1987

  • Order of the Barristers
  • Moot Court Board
    • 1985 Baker Cup Finalist; Best Brief Award
    • National Moot Court Competition (quarterfinalist)
  • Phi Delta Phi
  • Eastern Mineral Law Foundation Scholarship

Fairmont State College (University) Fairmont, West Virginia

  • A.S. 1978, with honors; B.S. 1983, cum laude
  • Major – Business Administration; Minor – Spanish
  • Benedum Scholarship

PUBLICATIONS, SEMINARS & AWARDS

  • Co-author: “An Update on Donley’s The Law of Coal, Oil and Gas in West Virginia and Virginia; 1971-1986,” 89 W.V.L.R. 757 (Spring 1987)
  • Author: “Educational Rights for Head Injured Children: Making Sure the System Works for Them,” Head Injury Reporter, Vol. 2, Issue 1 (1988)
  • West Virginia State Bar – Outstanding Young Lawyer Award (1992)
  • National Directory of Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals (1994)
  • DHHR 2018 Ron Nester Award for excellence in elder abuse awareness and advocacy
  • Facilitator for American Bar Association Fourth National Guardianship Summit, May 2021
  • Multiple PowerPoint presentations on the development of financial exploitation laws in West Virginia, capacity, guardianship and conservatorship, and other issues related to elder abuse made before the American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging, West Virginia Supreme Court, AARP, and various businesses and corporate associations

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Bar Memberships:

  • West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals (1987)
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia (1987)
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit (1988)
  • Supreme Court of the United States of America (1990)
  • United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (1991)
  • United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia (1991)

Professional Organizations:

  • West Virginia State Bar (1987 – C)
  • West Virginia State Bar Elder Law Committee (2021 – C)
  • West Virginia Association of Administrative Law Judges (2015 – C)
  • West Virginia State Bar Grievance Committee (1996 – 2007)
  • Kanawha County Bar Association (1987 – C)
  • West Virginia Financial Exploitation Task Force (2013 – C) Abuse in Later Life Coalition (2014 – C)
  • WV WINGS Guardianship and Conservatorship Network (2014 – C)
  • American Bar Association (2017 – C)

Civic Organizations:

  • Kanawha Players, Board of Directors, President (1993-96)
  • St. Thomas Moore Lawyers Society, Inc.
  • West Virginia Health Right, Inc., Board of Directors (1991 – 00)
  • West Virginia Humanities Council, Chautauqua Committee (1995 – 98)
  • YWCA, Board of Directors (1997 – 2003; 2014 – 2020); Facilities Committee (2001 – C);
    • Public Policy Committee (2014 – C)
  • LPGA Amateur Golf Association (2007 – C) (Board of Directors 2007 – C)
    • President 2011 – 2013; Activities Director, 2014 – C)