Clay Law Firm, PLLC

04/13/2026

This weekend was the 50th Law School Reunion of the Class of 1976 at Washington and Lee.
There were 76 graduates in our class, after starting with over 85 and taking 5 transfers. Tough turnover.
I had a wonderful time meeting with about 35 class members for the weekend, reminiscing about our school days and catching up on their lives and careers.
Almost 20 have passed on.
Our class included two who served as General Counsel to the Republican National Commitee.
An Assistant Attorney General for the Environment under both Bush administrations.
Virginia Attorney General.
Senior Assistant AG in Virginia in charge of Appeals.
President of the American Trial Lawyers Association.
President of the ABA...first black.
VP and General Counsel for Verizon.
In house Counsel for Wachovia.
General Counsel for Children's Television Workshop.
Prosecutor of the famous Van Damme murder case in San Diego.
Two time malpractice lawyer of the year from Michigan.
Founder of a bond trading company who sold out and has since climbed Mt Everest and hitched the length of Cuba...
International Construction lawyer all over the world.
Construction lawyer who wrote textbook...(has Masters in Anthropology from Oxford, lived in Montgomery, plays piano and organ) now has written six novels in retirement.
Merchant Marine Academy grad does offshore drilling contracts.
Real estate developer in Tucson.
Public defender in Jacksonville.
President of Imperial Colliery Coal.
President of Ramco Coal featured on front page.of Wall St.Journal last spring...
Retired family court judge in Virginia.
Labor lawyer in Michigan.
Two of us practicing in WV still at it.
And others.
These were my colleagues in law school. An amazing group of people whom I am privileged to have known and grown with while learning the law.
It was a great weekend.

07/14/2025

It has now been 49 years since I was admitted to practice in West Virginia.
What a trip it has been.
Today I am seeing clients on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for estate planning, business and property consultations, leaving me Mondays and Fridays for title work and wrap up so I can avoid working on weekends.
Evan Dove who has been with me for 8 years is an excellent trial lawyer and is handling civil and criminal trial work, as well as business and property matters that appear headed toward litigation.
He has tried several highly visible cases the last few years and has experience beyond his years.
In the mean time, Barbara Jennings has over 40 years handling closings, having worked with Fred Jesser in the past for 30 years, and now 10 with me.
Together Barbara, Hettie, Becky and I are handling real estate and estate planning matters, while Evan, with Becky's help, is taking on the litigation.
My recent examination at the Cleveland Clinic tells me I not ready to retire yet.
See you at the office.

07/06/2024

Forty eight years ago today, I was sworn in by the West Virginia Supreme Court to practice law.
I never imagined that I would still be practicing in 2024.
I must admit that I have cut back, trying to limit my practice to real estate and estate planning, leaving courtroom work to my associate Evan Dove, who has seven years of trial experience now and who is almost constantly in the courtroom.
I have taken a few days off for the 4th, but can't imagine being off everyday!

04/26/2022

07/07/2021

When I was sworn in to practice law by the West Virginia Supreme Court on July 6, 1976, forty-five years ago, I frankly never contemplated that I might still be at it in 2021. I was working with a firm of six lawyers in Bluefield, the oldest of whom was 67, and I questioned why he was still working. As many hobbies as I have, and as much as I enjoy other things, I now understand and have understood since about the twenty year mark because I can't imagine myself in any other profession. The practice of law has given me the opportunity to learn about other professions, people, and how things work from mining, engineering to government. It has given me the opportunity to help people create jobs, buy homes, get new starts from accidents and financial disasters. It has allowed me to help others like no other job or profession and for that I am truly thankful.
So today I started a new year with my wonderful staff to help and encourage me. Evan Dove taking on the most difficult of the court appointed cases there are and learning by leaps and bounds while Becky assists him, and Barbara Jennings closing real estate transactions one after another, and Hetti Stone keeping me organized and assisting me with every twist and turn from commercial transactions to the small amount of litigation I still have on my plate. Thank you all. And thank you to all the clients of the past forty-five years who have made this such an interesting journey!

06/17/2021

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/15-best-small-towns-visit-2021-180977798/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

From Alabama's music capital to the self-proclaimed 'center of the universe,' these American towns are calling your name

12/07/2020

We have just come through a Covid quarantine and will be open and healthy on Monday December 7, 2020. We apologize if you have been unable to reach us or there has been a delay in getting your work done. One employee was ill with Covid, another with an unrelated illness, and the rest of us were essentially ordered by health department and CDC protocols to quarantine with which we complied. We are now all clear and will be back at work! Safety and health come first!

02/29/2020

Our new waiting room in the newly expanded office still at 204 West Maple Avenue, Fayetteville.

02/29/2020

Located in Fayetteville, West Virginia, across from Pies and Pints on Maple Ave.

10/15/2018

SHERIFF'S TAX SALE 2017
For those who purchased property at the Sheriff's tax sale in 2017, the procedure changed this year to require the title search and List of Persons entitled to right to redeem to file those with the State Auditor's office on or before October 31, 2018 instead of December 31, 2018! If you purchased, you received notice with your packet, but we have received fewer this year than usual and I am concerned that some people may have forgotten or missed that notice. I can still get them done if you bring them in quickly!