Appalachian School of Law celebrated its 17th commencement on Saturday, May 7 in Riverview School’s gymnasium. Faculty, staff, family and friends gathered to watch the conferring of degrees and hooding ceremony for the Class of 2016 comprised of 43 members from 14 states. Graduates included Paul L. LaBarr of Claudville. The Honorable Cynthia D. Kinser, retired chief justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia gave the commencement address. Degrees were awarded by Dean Sandra K. McGlothlin. The idea of a law school serving Central Appalachia and beyond was conceived in 1994 by Wise County attorney Joseph E. Wolfe. The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors and the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority proposed in 1996 that the law school be located in Grundy. Appalachian School of Law’s charter class began on August 11, 1997 and the first commencement was in May, 2000. Appalachian School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association.<a href="http://www.mountainmedianews.com/enterprise/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/LaBarr-paul.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-2527"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-2527" src="http://www.mountainmedianews.com/enterprise/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/LaBarr-paul-201x300.jpg" alt="LaBarr, paul" width="201" height="300" /></a>
