MORGANTOWN — A West Virginia University College of Law professor recently was awarded the Excellence in Agricultural Law for Academica award for his contributions to the agricultural community as an attorney.
Jesse Richardson, professor of law and lead land use attorney at WVU said the award, which is presented by the American Agricultural Law Association is very humbling.
"The people that are part of the American Agricultural Law Association are the best group of people that I have ever met in my life," Richardson said in an interview with The West Virginia Record. "That these attorneys, whom I greatly respect and admire, would choose me for this award is overwhelming."
Richardson said he considers the AALA attorneys his friends and colleagues and called the honor "a highlight of my career," Richardson said.
Richardson said he has been a member of AALA since he was in law school.
"I was on the board of directors for eight years and served as president," he said. "During this time, I have gotten to know many of the members and they have gotten to know me."
The attorney said he gives updates at AALA's annual conference on land use and resource law each year.
"These interactions have allowed the members to see my passion for law and my passion for teaching law," he said. "Anyone who interacts with me can see my passion for education and learning. For these reasons, I think the group felt that I was deserving of the award."
Richardson said the annual conference is a continuing legal education event, but, for the AALA, the members come to the conference as much to see old friends as to get CLE credits.
"I was interacting with my friends and colleagues and during the award ceremony, I was as surprised as everyone else to hear my name called," Richardson said. "It was great to be able to share this moment with so many good friends and close colleagues."
Richardson received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1987. He also holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics and a master's degree in agricultural and applied economics from Virginia Tech. Those degrees were received in 1984 and 1996.
