Parkersburg, WV
United Square, Fifth Floor
501 Avery Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
T: (304) 420-5535
F: (304) 420-5587

Practice Areas

J.D., with honors, The Ohio State University (2003)

  • Public Events Editor, The Ohio State Law Journal
  • National Moot Court Team

M.M., Ohio University (1996)

B.M., summa cum laude, Ohio University (1993)

  • Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
  • Ohio Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
Photo of Richard S. Boothby

Richard S. Boothby

Partner

Rick Boothby focuses his practice in education law. He advises, represents, and conducts trainings for K-12 school districts and multi-county career and technical education centers. Rick regularly represents public school boards in the areas of special education, employment law and constitutional law. 

He is a former public school teacher and currently serves as chairman of the West Virginia State Bar Association’s Education Law Committee.

Representative Cases

  •  Louk v. Board of Education of the County of Braxton, No. 16-0321 (February 21, 2017) (probationary/continuing contracts)
  • Yatauro v. Calhoun County Board of Education, No. 15-0903, 2016 WL 5030280 (2016) (state-ordered contract reductions without hearings)

  • Sayre v. Mason County Board of Education, No. 15-0336, 2016 WL 143435 (2016) (lengthening the workday)

  • Presentation:  Empowering West Virginia’s School Districts:  Developments from the Legislature’s 2019 Regular Session by Richard S. Boothby
    West Virginia School Board Association: Regional Meeting
    Summersville Convention Center, Summersville, West Virginia, May 9, 2019
  • Presentation:  Conducting Investigations in the Public Schools:  Lawful and Effective Investigation Techniques and Tips by Richard S. Boothby
    West Virginia Association of School Human Resource Officials: Spring Conference
    Mercer County Technical Education Center, Princeton, West Virginia, April 25, 2019
  • Presentation:  Empowering West Virginia’s School Districts:  Developments from the Legislature’s 2019 Regular Session by Richard S. Boothby
    West Virginia School Board Association: Regional Meeting
    West Virginia University at Parkersburg, Parkersburg, West Virginia, April 17, 2019
  • Presentation: West Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act by Richard S. Boothby, Joshua A. Cottle and Kimberly S. Croyle
    West Virginia Executive Secretaries Association
    Bowles Rice LLP, Charleston, West Virginia, February 15, 2019
  • Presentation: "Hot Topics in School Personnel Law" by Richard S. Boothby, Canon B. Hill and Laura L. Sutton
    West Virginia Association of School Human Resource Officials: Fall Conference
    The Blennerhassett Hotel, Parkersburg, West Virginia, October 25, 2018
  • Presentation: When Do Substitutes Get “Substandard” Rights and Benefits? by Richard S. Boothby and Laura L. Sutton
    West Virginia Association of School Business Officials: 2018 Spring Conference
    Embassy Suites, Charleston, West Virginia, May 18, 2018
  • Presentation: FMLA Basics by Richard S. Boothby and Rebecca M. Tinder
    West Virginia Association of School Human Resource Officials Fall Conference 2017
    Cabell County Transportation Complex Training Center, Huntington, West Virginia, October 27, 2017
  • Presentation: Things You Should Know But You Don’t Know, by Howard E. Seufer, Jr. and Richard S. Boothby
    West Virginia Association of School Administrators
    Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, West Virginia, January 27, 2017
  • Presentation:  Don’t “Leave” Me Hanging by Richard S. Boothby
    WV Association of School Business Officials
    Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Davis, West Virginia, October 12, 2016
  • Presentation:  Where ARE these people? Leave Issues and Answers, by Richard S. Boothby and Rebecca M. Tinder
    West Virginia Association of School Business Officials: Annual Spring Conference
    Embassy Suites, Charleston, West Virginia, May 10, 2016
  • Presentation:  State Board Policy 4373 & West Virginia Safe Schools Act Student Discipline Processes, by Richard S. Boothby
    West Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals: Assistant Principals Conference
    Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia, March 24, 2015
  • Presentation:  The Vagaries of County Board Participation in Social Networking, by Richard S. Boothby and Rebecca M. Tinder
    West Virginia School Board Association: Annual November Meeting
    Stonewall Resort, Roanoke, West Virginia, November 8, 2014
  • Presentation:  Avoiding Surprises by Being Prepared, by Richard S. Boothby, Howard E. Seufer, Jr. and Rebecca M. Tinder
    West Virginia Executive Secretaries Association: Annual Fall Conference
    Bowles Rice LLP, Charleston, West Virginia, September 14, 2014
  • Presentation:  Personnel Season 2014: Impact of Senate Bill 359, by Richard S. Boothby and Howard E. Seufer, Jr.
    West Virginia Association of School Administrators: Annual Current Issues Seminar
    Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, West Virginia, January 31, 2014
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA)
  • National School Boards Association - Council of School Attorney (NSBA - COSA)
  • West Virginia State Bar (Chairman, Education Law Committee)
  • Ohio Bar Association (Former Chairman, Education Law Committee)
  • Wood County (WV) Bar Association
  • Washington County (OH) Bar Association