FORCH NAMED UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA LEGAL COUNSEL

	CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Oct. 1 -- Paul Forch, the state's
senior assistant attorney general who has served as interim legal
adviser for the University of Virginia since August 1995, has been
named the University's general counsel.
	His appointment is effective Oct. 1, pending approval of the
Board of Visitors.  In addition, Forch will serve as special
assistant attorney general.
	"We are delighted that Paul will be joining us full-time,"
U.Va. President John T. Casteen III said.  "It is hard to imagine
that anyone could be better prepared to handle the complex legal
issues facing public higher education today."
	A long-time specialist in education issues, Forch has served
under eight attorneys general since his appointment by Andrew Miller
in 1975.  For the past 10 years, he has overseen legal services to
all of Virginia's public colleges, universities and education
agencies, while serving as general counsel to the College of William
& Mary, Virginia State University and the State Council of Higher
Education.
	A 1973 graduate of the University of Richmond law school,
where he received academic honors as a member of the McNeill Law
Society, Forch earned a bachelor's degree at U.Va. in 1970. 
	"I am very pleased to appoint Paul Forch to be special
assistant attorney general for the University of Virginia," said
Attorney General James S. Gilmore III.  "I've worked closely with
him as the chief of my office's education division and have great
respect for him, both personally and professionally.  Paul will
bring the skills and experience necessary to serve U.Va. and the
people of Virginia in the best possible way."	
	As U.Va.'s general counsel, Forch will handle litigation,
contract negotiation, review of policies and procedures, and other
legal business on behalf of the University.
	He succeeds James J. Mingle, who left U.Va. in July 1995 to
become legal counsel and secretary to the corporation of Cornell
University.
###
September 30, 1996
	Television reporters should call our TV News Office at (804)
924-7550.