Partners in Life, Partners in Service

Tom and Paula Flaherty’s commitment to Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV) is deeply rooted in a lifetime of service and connection to community. The two met as teenagers at Wheeling Central Catholic High School, where they attended the senior prom together, beginning a partnership that has spanned decades and countless contributions to West Virginia.

For Paula, service began early while volunteering at a hospital as a candy-striper during high school and continued through her career as a University of Charleston professor, where she helped pioneer a program with Kanawha County Schools that connected students with community service opportunities tied to classroom curriculum. After retiring, she became a driving force behind Charleston’s West Side revitalization, including leadership with Charleston Urban Works and the transformative West Side Gateway Lighting Project.

Tom’s passion for justice also began early, with a formative summer at Legal Aid that shaped his career as a trial attorney and lifelong advocate. After co-founding Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC, he remained dedicated to expanding access to justice, serving in leadership roles in the West Virginia State Bar and LAWV, steering fundraising efforts that generated more than $3 million for Legal Aid, and championing LAWV’s mission statewide. Together, Tom and Paula played key roles in bringing LAWV’s headquarters to Elk City, helping strengthen the organization’s presence while supporting the broader revitalization of the West Side community they called home for more than 45 years.

Their commitment is grounded in a shared belief that small acts of help can have life-changing impact. Tom recalls a woman in Tucker County who walked eight miles one way to seek help from LAWV so she could finalize a divorce from a husband she hadn’t seen in decades; he, of course, insisted on giving her a ride home. In another instance in Monongalia County, a client, so grateful for the assistance he received, tried to repay LAWV attorneys with three freshly harvested squirrels, until Tom confirmed that the services were provided freely and without obligation. For Tom and Paula, these moments serve as powerful reminders of how small acts of support can mean the world to someone with nowhere else to turn.

Both see LAWV as essential to serving underrepresented West Virginians and as a vital partner in building stronger, more vibrant communities. Paula has a motto on her desk, “your reach should exceed your grasp,” and this philosophy reflects their belief that meaningful community service, like the work of LAWV, is fundamental to creating lasting change and building a stronger West Virginia.

Tom and Paula encourage others to get involved, noting that supporting LAWV, through volunteering or giving, offers a powerful reminder of the difference compassionate action can make.

Join them in strengthening our communities by volunteering your time or making a gift to LAWV today.