Long Time Jackson Kelly Attorney Reminisces On Firm's History
Stephen Crislip Helps Celebrate Firm's 200th anniversary
January 18, 2022
((The following is part of a series of blogs from current and former attorneys at the Firm commemorating the 200th anniversary)).
I started with the largest law firm in the State of West Virginia as a summer intern in May of 1971. At the time, largest meant there were about 20 lawyers and I was the 23rd in May of 1973 as an Associate. On the running list of lawyers, I was the 68th in the Firm’s history. By the time I retired as General Counsel in 2014, that list was in the 800 range.
It was a unique time to join because I got to see some of the firm’s rich history firsthand, and meet in person many of those names that made it the largest, and arguably, the most influential law firm in the state as reported by the state wide press at the time.
Perhaps the best example of a historic firm adapting to the modern practice is reflected in a 2006 remodeling of the third firm office in my tenure. A law office architect from Washington DC recognized the value of the history we had on site and designed an ultra-modern high tech conference floor and mixed into it such items as an 1867 land map signed by the firm founder; an 1888 one paragraph handwritten partnership agreement side by side with an 1892 typed partnership agreement that had expanded to four paragraphs; 1932 firm accounts books; and historic photos in all conference rooms. A visit to that conference center showcases the national office locations as well as the historic ties that brought the firm to the present.
It is hard for many to understand that a law firm has been in continuous existence in Charleston, West Virginia for 200 years. Because the small legal community there shared some common lawyers, the late Managing Member John L. McClaugherty hired a doctoral student in history to run our “chain of title”. That work cemented the connection of the firm to Benjamin H. Smith opening an office in 1822 that lead to the modern firm. Smith and other early firm lawyers were influential in the formation of West Virginia. President Lincoln appointed him as the first U.S. Attorney for WV and Smith was required to take action against his Confederate officer son. After Confederates were allowed to again practice law in 1872, he joined that very son at another local firm until the end of his career. That is where the firm’s title showed a branch to another long standing and respected Charleston law firm.
So, this law firm now known as Jackson Kelly opened and existed 41 years before West Virginia became a State in 1863. A modern “Google” of the firm’s lawyers will show a steady and influential role in their state(s) and their communities. The Revolutionary era Alexis de Tocqueville observation that American lawyers were in the very fabric of the newly formed country of America is clearly demonstrated for 200 years by the firm now simply known as Jackson Kelly.
