Bar Blast -April 7, 2020

COVID-19 Information 

ABA Free Legal Answers is an online service established by the American Bar Association geared toward expanding legal services to low income individuals. The virtual legal clinic allows users to pose questions about civil legal issues to pro bono attorneys. Earlier this month, inquiries surpassed 100,000. The timing is especially fortuitous as ABA Free Legal Answers can play a key role in providing pro bono legal services during this time of limiting personal contact.  “So many times, we find that limited scope advice can make all the difference in someone’s life,” said George T. “Buck” Lewis, founder of ABA Free Legal Answers and a shareholder at Baker Donelson in Memphis, Tenn. “For those who cannot afford an attorney and have nowhere else to turn, Free Legal Answers often serves as a critical resource for qualified legal advice.”  Users of the service must meet income eligibility guidelines applicable to each state. While expanding access to legal services, ABA Free Legal Answers also expands pro bono opportunities for attorneys in a convenient way to match their schedules.  Legal guidance is limited to non-criminal matters and takes place entirely online. The questions cover a broad range of legal issues, many of which concern children and families, housing and consumer issues. In less than four years, 41 states and more than 7,000 attorneys nationally have committed to participating in Free Legal Answers. Attorneys can volunteer their services by navigating to www.ABAFreeLegalAnswers.org and selecting “Volunteer Attorney Registration.” ABA Free Legal Answers is a project of the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service.

The Veterans and Military Affairs Committee has asked that the following information be disseminated to you.  The USNS Comfort is a 1,000-bed Navy hospital ship that has been deployed to deliver humanitarian aide to New York.  The Committee asked that adults who want to write letters to the sailors on the ship to address the same to Tina Bryan, HMC, USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), Unit 100362, Box 4025, FPO AE 0956.  

News/Announcements

The Court Improvement Program is deeply involved in a MDT project coordinated by Brenda Hoylman and Gabe Conley.  To date, they have spoken to stakeholders around the state that include DHHR’s local/field supervisors and probation officers.  The contacts so far have been made have been by phone, in person or a survey.  The next leg of this project is hearing from you –  the attorneys involved in JA, JS or JD cases.  As you are aware, a strong MDT is critical in organizing and providing the treatment and interventions a child(ren) and families need to be successful.   Your responses are critical  to the project and we thank you in advance for your support!  Click here to access the survey

CLE Announcements

Per Rule 6.05 (f) of the new State Bar Administrative Rules: A lawyer may obtain one credit hour for every three completed hours of pro bono legal service which satisfies Rule 6.1 of the West Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct and is performed during the reporting period through one or more of the following approved pro bono organizations: (1) Legal Aid of West Virginia; (2) the State Bar’s West Virginia Free Legal Answers Program; (3) the State Bar’s Tuesday Legal Connect Program; and (4) the West Virginia University College of Law Center for Law and Public Service. The approved pro bono organizations shall report each lawyer’s pro bono service hours by June 1 of each year in the format required by the Commission. Credits obtained under this subsection are subject to the limitation set forth in Rule 6.05(c) and are not credited as live instruction under Rule 6.05(a). A maximum of six hours of mandatory continuing legal education credit for approved pro bono service hours may be obtained for any two-year reporting period, and no additional service or credit hours may be carried over to the next reporting period. The Commission has the authority to review a lawyer’s pro bono service hours to ensure compliance with this rule. 

While the majority of Rule 6 is not effective until the July 1, 2020-June 30, 2022 reporting period, the pro bono service rule is effective July 1, 2019.

 

Criminal Law – Click her for seminar link

Succession Planing  – Click here for seminar link 

Probate Law – Click here for seminar link

Landlord Tenant Law – Click here for seminar link

Intellectual Propery Law – Click here for seminar link

Your CLE Reporting Period Ends on June 30, 2020.  Attached are directions for submitting your credits.  Print the attached document and use it as your CLE Reporting Guide.  If you do not submit your own CLE credits, please share this document with the individual who reports your CLE Credits.  

Upcoming Events

SPONSORED BY:    PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICES

PRESENTER:    RONNI M. SHEETS, CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER,

                          PUBLIC DEFENDER CORPORATION FOR

                          THIRTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

CLE:    1 hour in Ethics           

The coronavirus epidemic gives rise to challenges for attorneys 

representing detained clients. Professional and ethical obligations 

compel defense counsel to consider their clients’ circumstances to 

determine if release might be possible in these extenuating 

circumstances – exacerbated by the overcrowding in the correctional facilities.   The conference, which will last fifty minutes, has been approved for 1.0 hour of CLE credit in Ethics. The conference will outline circumstances warranting action on behalf of your client, a plan of action, and resources available for your use. The conference will be held by Zoom and you are asked to register.   

Click here to register 

Once you register, you will be provided the information necessary to join the conference.   

Registration coming soon

Registration cutoff is 5:00 p.m. on April 29, 2020.

CLE:  3 CLE  credits

Host:  State Bar

*You are receiving this email because you have elected to receive the Bar-Blast from the WV State Bar. To change you email address or manage your email subscriptions, you must log into the Membership Portal at mywvbar.org. This mailing list is updated weekly.