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Bar Blast – June 20, 2017

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June 20, 2017
The West Virginia State Bar will be closed June 20th in observance of West Virginia’s 154th Birthday
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Annual Membership Reporting & Fees
On June 9, 2017 all Active and Inactive members were mailed an orange postcard via USPS. This postcard contains instructions on how to complete reporting and pay fees for the 2017-18 fiscal year.
IOLTA information will not be populated from last year’s reporting, due to the implementation of a new IOLTA tracking system. Please have all current information available when you login.

The deadline for Reporting and Fee payment is on or before midnight, September 1, 2017. For information on how to complete this process go to www.wvbar.org.

Keller Notice to State Bar Members
Members of The West Virginia State Bar are hereby notified of the plan which has been approved by the Board of Governors regarding the implementation of the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Keller v. State Bar of California.
The time schedule which will be followed on membership dues matters, in accordance with the Keller decision, is as follows:
June 9: Dues Statements are sent to the Membership.
July 14: Written challenges to Keller deduction must be received by the State Bar Executive Director.
July 28: Board of Governors will review challenges.
October: Independent Audit is completed.
November: Arbitration Hearings are held.
January 2018: Arbitration Decisions are made.
The Keller deduction for 2017-2018 is $2.75.
Membership Fee Guidelines are available online at www.mywvbar.org/feeguidelines. If any member has a question concerning this matter, contact Anita Casey at The West Virginia State Bar at 304-553-7228 or by e-mail at caseya@wvbar.org.

Annual Professional Limited Liability (PLLC) Organization Renewals 
In order to insure that your PLLC is in compliance with the laws of The State of West Virginia, you need to file an annual renewal application with The State Bar. Any change in the corporate organization from the prior year must be reported. COPIES OF CURRENT CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE ARE REQUIRED. Every PLLC must also register an email address.

If your organization renewed online previously click here to login.  PLLC Annual Renewals are due by July 1, 2017.  If you have questions concerning PLLC reporting requirements contact Anita R. Casey at 304-553-7228 or caseya@wvbar.org. If you have questions concerning the process for online filing contact Mike Mellace at 304-553-7223 or mellacem@wvbar.org

West Virginia Free Legal Answers 
(formerly WV Online Legal Help)
The upgraded WV Online Legal Help is here!  The website’s new name is West Virginia Free Legal Answers.  It is the state of West Virginia’s site as part of the ABA Free Legal Answers national site. Volunteers will find it similar to WV Online Legal Help, but much more user friendly.   We hope you’ll enjoy using this upgraded site to continue helping vulnerable West Virginian’s receive free civil legal advice! If you have questions regarding West Virginia  Free Legal Answers click here.
Attorneys that were registered on wvonlinelegalhelp.org can use their email address and password to login to  https://wv.freelegalanswers.org to answer questions. To register as a new attorney account click here.

Legal Aid Pro Bono Portal and Online Trainings
Legal Aid of West Virginia recently launched its Pro Bono Portal, which is a one-stop resource for pro bono attorneys who would like to volunteer to help low-income West Virginians. The Pro Bono Portal offers:
  • Six free Online Trainings, approved for 4.8 CLE credits;
  • The ability to update Legal Aid on pro bono cases you’ve already taken; and
  • The opportunity to view cases that need pro bono assistance in your area.
Click here to watch a short video about the Portal and Trainings. Once you’ve watched the video, we’d like to hear your feedback by taking a quick 3 question survey.
If you have any questions, please contact Kate White at kwhite@lawv.net or 304-343-3013 ext. 2167.

The Roadmap to Successful Mediation:  Effective Communication at Every Turn –
An Advanced Mediation Training
The ADR Committee will be sponsoring a mediation training with Louise Phipps Senft, a nationally recognized mediator and mediation trainer, and author of the best-seller,
Being Relational.  Click Here for Louise Phipps Senft’s Biography. This training will take place on June 28, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Bridgeport Conference Center and will qualify for 7.5 hours of CLE.
Join us and learn how to more effectively communicate in mediation, whether as an advocate or as a mediator.  All registrants will receive a complimentary copy of Louise’s book as part of the registration process.
The Honorable Michael John Aloi will also present at the training.  Cost for the training is $150.00. Click Here to Register. Click Here for the Agenda.  For further information contact Monica at monicahaddad@comcast.net.
Public Comment

Notice of Public Comment Period on Proposed Model Chapter 13 Plan for the United States Bankruptcy Court for Southern District of West Virginia
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of West Virginia has drafted a proposed Model Chapter 13 Plan for use in the southern district of West Virginia.  The proposed Chapter 13 Plan is available on the Bankruptcy Court’s website (www.wvsb.uscourts.gov) or can be requested by sending a written request with a self-addressed stamped envelope, to the Bankruptcy Clerk’s office address below.  Public comments on the proposed Model Chapter 13 Plan will be accepted through Monday, August 17, 2017, and can be filed by emailing the comments to  wvsbml_cm_notice@wvsb.uscourts.gov or by mailing comments to the Bankruptcy Clerk’s office at:
WVSB Clerk’s Office, Room 3200
300 Virginia Street, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Proposed Amendment to Rule 9 of the Rules for Admission to Practice of Law 
The Supreme Court of Appeals is seeking comment on a proposed amendment to Rule 9.0 of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law. Rule 9.0 of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law governs limited permission to practice in association with an approved legal services organization or public defender program. The rule currently limits practice under this provision to a total of thirty-six months.  The proposed amendment extends the time to five years, which would coincide with the time frame required for admission through reciprocity. Public comments on the proposed change to Rule 9 will be accepted through July 31, 2017.

Proposed Amendment to Rule 5 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure for Magistrate Courts
The Supreme Court of Appeals is seeking comment on a proposed amendment to Rule 5 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure for Magistrate Courts. The proposed amendment provides for regular review of compliance with bond conditions in cases involving allegations of domestic violence. Public comments on the proposed change to Rule 5 will be accepted through July 31, 2017.
Upcoming Events

June 22, 2017 – FREE CLE
Navigating past and current case law governing the pre-suit process of the Medical Professional Liability Act (MPLA); assessing damages specific to claims governed by the MPLA; and discussion of recent  changes to the MPLA.
Sponsor: WV State Bar Law and Medicine Committee
CLE: 3.0 General Credits
Location: State Bar Center – Charleston, WV and Online Video Conference

June 28, 2017
The Roadmap to Sucessful Mediation: Effective Communication at Every Turn – An Advanced Mediation Training
Sponsor: The West Virginia State Bar ADR Committee
CLE: 7.5 General Credits
Location: 

Bridgeport Conference Center


The State Bar has secured a government room rate with the Wingate Hotel on June 27th using code: CGSBAR
For further information please email  monicahaddad@comcast.net

July 10-11 & 17-18, 2017
Annual, Free Cross-Training Conferences on Child Abuse/Neglect and Juvenile Law
Sponsor: The West Virginia Court Improvement Program (CIP)
CLE: 16.0 General Credits
Location: July 10-11, 2017, Lakeview Resort, Morgantown
July 17-18, 2017 Charleston Civic Center, Charleston

July 14, 2017 10am-3pm
Small-and Medium-Sized Firm Recruitment Summit
Sponsor: WVU College of Law
About: On-Campus Interviews are generally used by the largest firms to recruit new attorneys, but there is no dedicated system for finding appropriate talent for smaller firms.  This event will include a free 1-credit CLE course on succession planning,
free lunch, and a tour of our new facilities.  After lunch, we will engage in an interactive discussion to identify how to best help smaller firms meet their hiring needs.  We will listen to attorneys describe when they realize they need to hire, what credentials they think are important, and what we can do to make the process as easy as possible.
Who Should Attend: Attorneys from firms with up to 30 attorneys, as well as the leaders of the various state, local, and affinity bar associations. To Register Click Here

August 7-11, 2017
Basic Family Mediation Training
Sponsor: Potomac Mediation Services and Professor Tom Patrick – WVU College of Law
About: An intensive, interactive 40-hour training program
for attorneys, counselors, therapists, social workers, and others
who desire to serve as Family Mediators in West Virginia.
Location: Clarion Hotel – Shepherdstown, West Virginia

October 3-26, 2017 – SAVE THE DATE!
2017 State Bar Regional Meetings
Sponsor: The West Virginia State Bar
Dates & Locations:
October 3 – University of Charleston – Charleston
October 4 – Guyan Country Club – Huntington
October 5 – The Blennerhassett – Parkersburg
October 10 – Tamarack – Beckley
October 11 – McFarland House – Martinsburg
October 12 – South Branch Inn – Moorefield
October 13 – Giovanni’s – Chapmanville
October 24 – Oliverio’s Restorante – Bridgeport
October 25 – Lakeview Resort – Morgantown
October 26 – Oglebay Resort – Wheeling

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