Chanin Krivonyak Receives 40 Under 40

Chanin Krivonyak, Recipient of the “40 Under 40” Award

First paying job: “I worked there (theater) selling popcorn and soda from the counter… I won’t get butter on my popcorn to this day.”

Chanin Krivonyak’s first job was in the movie business, if you count spending your high school years working behind the counter at the local cinema as such.

Now Krivonyak is an attorney and military servicewoman, having enlisted in the U.S. Army during her first year of college. And whenever she can, she uses her legal skills to aid military families.

“I like helping military members and family members anytime they have a question on something,” she said.

Krivonyak grew up in Witcher Creek. She attended DuPont High School in Belle, where she graduated third in her class of more than 200 students. She then went to West Virginia University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1993 and a law degree in 1996.

She balanced her schoolwork with a career in the military and volunteer work. As a student she provided pro bono legal assistance to people who could not afford legal representation in bankruptcy, divorce and domestic violence. She also was the winner of the West Virginia Invitational Trial Competition, which is awarded to the best team of two students who successfully compete in mock trials against their peers.

After law school, her first job was working as an attorney at the Kanawha County Public Defender’s Office.

“I wanted to get in the courtroom right away, and that was the place I wanted to do that,” she said.

Her military career has been equally distinguished, with Krivonyak named Unit Solider of the Year in 1993. She was offered a direct commission in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) with the 101st Air Assault Division, but she chose to return to her home.

Krivonyak has authored legal articles and given several lectures, but she said her proudest accomplishment is her family. She and her husband, Chris, have three children: Jordan, 6, Sydney, 4, and Logan, 2.

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