Lawyer Profile

Howard E. Seufer , Jr.

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Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP

Website for Howard E. Seufer , Jr.

600 Quarrier Street
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: 304-347-1100
Firm Website: http://www.bowlesrice.com

Listed in Best Lawyers since 2003.

Attorney Bio

Howard E. Seufer, Jr., a partner in the Charleston, West Virginia, office of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love LLP is the leader of the firm’s Education Law Group.  The Group provides the full spectrum of legal services to local education agencies and public colleges and universities. 

During his career, Howard has represented all 55 of West Virginia’s county boards of education.  He is a trained facilitator and a member of the Bowles Rice Executive Committee.

Frequently engaged as a presenter and panelist on school law issues, Howard is counsel to the West Virginia School Boards Association.  He belongs to the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys, the Education Law Committee of the West Virginia State Bar, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys. 

A member of the U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Howard chairs the Social Justice Visiting Committee at West Virginia University. He also belongs to the Board of Directors of The Education Alliance and is an officer of the West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation.

In 1973, Howard earned a BA degree, with high honor, from Michigan State University.  In 1977, he graduated Order of the Coif from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he was a member of the National Moot Court Team and the Order of Barristers.  After law school, Howard clerked for Senior Judge John A. Field, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Practice Areas

  • Education Law (Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, Labor and Employment)

Case History

  • Pendleton Citizens for Community Schools v. Marockie (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1998) — The Court''s opinion upholds standards govenring the State''s funding of rural school consolidation.
  • Flint v. Harrison County Board of Education (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1999) — The opinion in this case established standards for determining school service employees'' claims for equal pay under West Virginia''s "uniformity"statute.
  • Alderson v. Pocahontas County Board of Education (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 2009) — The State Supreme Court''''s decision in this case established the extent of  and limits upon public school employees'''' right to free speech.
  • Boner v. Kanawha County Board of Education (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1996) — In this opinion, the Supreme Court of Appeals established rules governing the replacement of regular fulltime teachers with independent contractors.
  • Board of Education of the County of Wood v. Enoch (West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1992) — The Enoch decision established standards by which applicants for teaching positions are to be judged and the process for filling extended year teaching assignments.

Client Comments

  • To those in my profession, when you mention education law, you immediately think of Howard Seufer. He is the expert we all turn to when we are seeking advice to prevent an incident, or when we need counsel after an incident. He remains current about recent decisions which may alter a mode of operation. He knows his clients and communicates with us (me) often regarding cases, policy development, and interpretation. He leads an outstanding group of attorneys who make up the education group at Bowles Rice. I cannot imagine seeking my advice from anyone other than Mr. Seufer and the education group at Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love.

    Tilden Hackworth

    Mineral County Board of Education

  • Howard Seufer, Jr. is excellent in bringing a level of comfort to the client. He is able to explain the legal position and help the client determine a viable approach to the issues. He represents Cabell County well and can refer us to an excellent team member of Bowles Rice.

    William Smith

    Cabell County Schools

  • Howard is the epitome of professionalism with an unequivocal knowledge of school law. Possessing excellent communication skills, Howard is a sought after speaker earning high evaluation marks from his audiences. Howard demonstrates that rare and invaluable ability of a teacher to bridge one's gap of understanding by providing rationales and explanations without legal verbiage so that the lay-person can comprehend.

    Kathy Kidder Wilkerson

    Brooke County Schools

  • Howard holds the distinction of being the state's top education lawyer. There are no distinct "seconds."

    Anonymous

Education

  • Michigan State University (BA) (1973)
  • West Virginia University (J.D.) (1977)

Organizations & Affiliations

  • West Virginia University Social Justice Visiting Committee — Chair
  • St. Thomas More Catholic Lawyers Society — Member
  • Kanawha County Bar Association — Member
  • West Virginia State Bar Association — Member, Education Law Committee
  • West Virginia Mansion Preservation Foundation — Director and Officer
  • The Education Alliance — Chair, Board of Directors
  • U.S Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference — Permanent Member
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys — Member
  • National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys — Member

Awards

  • Order of Barristers
  • Order of the Coif

Clerkships

  • Federal United States Court of Appeals