Students with Families

Each year a number of law students bring spouses, fiances, boyfriends, girlfriends, significant others, partners and children to Lexington. Law Families is an informal group open to law students and their significant others. The group gathers at least once a month for social events. Many of these events are kid-friendly. Activities include picnics, bowling, snow tubing, game night, a Thanksgiving potluck, to name just a few. There is also a weekly "Ladies' Night" and sometimes even a corresponding "Guys' Night."

The group is a great network both for those accompanying a law student to Lexington and for those combining the challenge of law school with familial obligations or a committed relationship. Please feel free to contact current member Pat Sweeney ('13L) and his wife Katherine Sweeney with any questions you might have about Law Families. Whether you are wondering what it's like to attend law school with a significant other or are simply interested in getting involved with Law Families once you move to Lexington, Pat and Katherine are happy to answer your questions.

For Those With Children:

For those law students with young or school-age children, please know that a great many people affiliated with the law school have experience with most local resources and are happy to provide assistance.  For a listing of public schools in the area, see the portion of this page below labeled "Teaching".

Kindergartens, Nursery Schools and Day Care:

For Job Seekers:

The job market in Lexington is tight; however, law students' companions have two advantages. First, every year a certain number of jobs become available when law students' companions leave Lexington after graduation. Second, the law school's active "grapevine" supplements more traditional methods of job-seeking. Informal networking can provide many opportunities, so you'd be wise to make your talents and qualifications known, whether at Open House or through email conversations with current students, your Kirgis Fellow or law school administrators.  It's best to come early and look hard!

Lexington is a residential town with many banks, stores, restaurants and business offices that are potential sources of employment. It is also a college town, and, in addition to Washington and Lee, is home to the Virginia Military Institute.  Nearby institutions of higher learning include Southern Virginia University, in neighboring Buena Vista (pronounced B'YOO-nuh VIS-ta), Roanoke College in Salem (55 miles), Mary Baldwin College in Staunton (pronounced STAN-ton) (30 miles), James Madison University in Harrisonburg (60 miles) and The University of Virginia in Charlottesville (65 miles).  Each of these nearby cities offers a wider range of employment opportunities than does Lexington; commuting in this region isn't characterized by the rush hour traffic that plagues larger metropolitan areas and spouses/partners/professors and others in the community sometimes carpool to make the trips easier.

Spouses seeking jobs in Lexington and in the aforementioned commuter markets should consult the below resources for openings and availabilities:

Teaching:

Virginia has a unique system of school districting. Each county has a district, but a large town within the county may have its own separate school system. In the immediate W&L area, there are two city districts (Lexington and Buena Vista) and a county district (Rockbridge).  All three districts have independent elementary and middle schools; there are two high schools, one serving Buena Vista and one for the remainder of the county, including Lexington.  Each district requires a separate application for employment. Following is a list of area School Boards with their respective schools:

A complete listing of all city and county school districts and information about Virginia Teacher Certification can be obtained on the Virginia Department of Education website.

There are a number of private schools in the larger towns and cities nearby: Staunton/Verona, Fishersville/Waynesboro, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg and  Charlottesville to the north and west, and Roanoke to the south. For a more complete list of the private schools in the area, we recommend you start with the National Association of Independent Schools' website: 

Hospitals:

For those spouses or significant others seeking employment in the healthcare industry, there are a number of employment possibilities both in Lexington and the surrounding area. In addition to Stonewall Jackson Hospital in Lexington, several healthcare facilities are within a very reasonable drive. Below is a full listing of nearby hospitals: 

Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospital
Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital
Augusta Medical Center
UVa Medical Center