Steven D. Smith

Steven D. Smith brings a multifaceted legal and administrative background to Kay Casto and Chaney PLLC, where he joined the Morgantown office in June 2025.  His practice focuses on labor and employment law, drawing on a diverse career in both the legal and higher education sectors.

• J.D., West Virginia University College of Law, 2024
  • Concentration in Labor and Employment Law
  • Associate Editor, West Virginia Law Review, Volume 126
  • CALI Awards: Civil Procedure – Rules (Professor DiSalvo); Civil Procedure – Jurisdiction (Professor McDiarmid)
  • President: Labor Law Society, Business Law Society, Employment Law Society
• M.B.A., Healthcare Management, Youngstown State University, 2023
• M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, Northeastern University, 2013
• B.A., Psychology and Political Science, Temple University Honors Program, 2010

• Litigation
  • Civil Litigation
  • Health Care
  • Labor and Employment

• West Virginia State Bar, 2024
• United States District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, 2024
• United States District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, 2024
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2024

• Judicial Law Clerk, U.S. District Court – Northern District of West Virginia (Judge John Preston Bailey), 2024–Present
  • Conducted legal research and analysis to assist in the preparation of opinions, orders, and bench memoranda.
  • Drafted legal opinions and orders ensuring clarity, accuracy, and adherence to legal precedent.
  • Reviewed case files, pleadings, and motions to provide comprehensive case analysis to the Judge.
  • Developed legal strategies and analysis of complex legal issues before the Court.
  • Attended court proceedings—including trials, criminal sentencings, and motions hearings.
  • Served as procedural resource for attorneys, litigants, and court personnel by acting as liaison for Northern District of West Virginia Local Rules.
• Assistant Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, West Virginia University, 2018–2024
  • Worked extensively with Clery Compliance and Clery Data.
  • Trained Office of Student Conduct staff on Clery and Campus Security Authority Duties.
  • Investigated and adjudicated reports of violations of the Campus Student Code.
  • Maintained and audited a campus-wide judicial system and database for 29,000 students.
  • Facilitated mediation, conflict coaching, restorative justice, and other trainings.
  • Coordinated all reports of violations of the Campus Student Code and worked with appropriate authorities throughout the investigation process.
  • Compiled student conduct statistics and created reports as necessary for internal use.
  • Promoted the University student conduct process to outside constituents, e.g., Morgantown Police Department, University Police Department.
  • Researched and advised student life and other University staff regarding compliance with all federal guidelines and laws, e.g., FERPA, Clery Act.
  • Coordinated all sanction oversight with appropriate offices including, Office of Campus and Community Life, Residential Education, University Policy, community agencies, etc.
  • Served as an advisor for students regarding the University adjudication process.
  • Maintained a student conduct database for purposes of reporting and monitoring student behavior.
  • Processed cases delegated to or referred by various units, staff, faculty, and other constituents within and outside of the University.
  • Supported the development and use of conflict resolution paths such as mediation, conflict coaching, facilitated dialogues, and restorative justice when appropriate.
• Director of Residential Life and Conferences/Events, Lycoming College, 2016–2018
  • Title IX Investigator under the Title IX Coordinator.
  • Served as an administrative hearing officer and chair of student conduct boards as requested by the Associate Dean of Students.
  • Sole person responsible for collecting on-campus Clery Data to send to the Dean of Students.

• Legal Extern, General Counsel’s Office, West Virginia University Health System, Summer 2023
  • Researched healthcare questions presented to the general counsel’s office at the Health System.
  • Drafted motions to compel and assisted in developing Daubert motions in healthcare cases.
  • Prepared for and observed medical malpractice pre-suit mediations prior to suits entering discovery.
• Legal Intern, Employment Law, Mountain State Justice, Spring 2023
  • Drafted discovery requests, interrogatories, motions, and other documents related to ongoing employment law cases.
  • Reviewed and discussed cases with staff lawyers, legal assistants, and other professionals.
  • Reviewed contract documents and financial records in preparation for motions and memos.
  • Prepared case files for hearings.
• Legal Intern, Criminal Division, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of West Virginia, Summer 2022
  • Researched substantive and procedural legal issues in the area of criminal law and sentencing.
  • Assisted federal prosecutors with investigations in white-collar crime and fraud.
  • Drafted memoranda and response motions in criminal cases.