The Washington lawyer who headed the fund for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks has been talking with Virginia Tech officials about handling its $7 million fund to aid victims of the April 16 shooting rampage.

Kenneth Feinberg said no plans have been finalized but added that he's willing to assist with the fund at no charge -- as he did during his 33-month stint as special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001.

Feinberg said he was contacted by Mary Vail Ware, director of Virginia's Criminal Injuries Compensation Fund, about his experiences with the congressionally established Sept. 11 fund. He has visited Virginia Tech twice to talk with officials, he said.

"I've explained some of the 9/11 experience, dealing with families," he said.

Larry Hincker, a Tech spokesman, said Feinberg has been "very helpful" to Tech officials. "We're hopeful that we can work out something."

The Hokie Spirit fund was established to administer donations that poured in after the shooting deaths of 32 students and professors by student Seung-Hui Cho, who then killed himself. A lawyer representing some victims' families has said they should be given more control over the fund.

About $100,000 has been spent so far for such things as funerals, transportation for families and medical expenses of the 25 wounded or injured victims, the university reported.

Feinberg said the extent of his involvement is up to Virginia Tech President Charles Steger and his administration. He said his experience with the $7 billion Sept. 11 fund provided lessons in "how to deal with that grief and that desire on the part of families to be part of this."

Separately, Tech announced Monday that more than 1,000 members of the American Counseling Association have volunteered to provide up to five counseling sessions, at no charge, to Virginia Tech students over the summer.

There are volunteer counselors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The university said students who want to see one of the counselors should go to the association's Web site, counseling.org, click on the Virginia Tech student link, and follow the instructions.

In addition, Tech said professionals at its Cook Counseling Center are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students may visit the Blacksburg center, on Washington Street, or call (540) 231-6557.

Counselors are available for emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (540) 231-6444.