Bar Blast – March 28, 2017

The West Virginia State Bar will be increasing password security requirements from 8 to 12 characters in the near future.  General security standards require people to change their passwords regularly with specific character requirements in order to keep their account as secure as possible. The move is needed to protect the State Bar and its members from the rash of hacks that have occurred to large organizations.   Prior to July 1, each Bar member will be prompted to update his or her password upon login if it does not meet our security requirements.  Additional information will be forthcoming before changes take effect.

Beginning April 1, the State Bar will require anyone calling in to access or change information in the State Bar’s database to have the member’s date of birth and employer name.  If the member is a sole practitioner, the employer name will be the member’s name.  This measure is also intended to increase the security of information contained in the State Bar’s database.

The Court has provisionally approved proposed amendments to the rules governing guardians ad litem in family court, and will accept public comment on the amendments through April 10, 2017. The amendments are necessary because guardians ad litem should not routinely be appointed in family court cases. Click Here for the Order

Click Here for the Agenda

• Legal Research in the 21st Century – Christina Steinbrecker Jack, Fastcase
• Reflecting on Environmental Enforcement: The Advent of Mega Cases – John Cruden, Former Assistant Attorney General US Environment and Natural Resources Division
• An update from the ABA – Linda Klein, President of the American Bar Association
• Criminal Law – Professor Douglas Berman, Professor – Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University
• An Introduction to the New Era of Lawyer Assistance Program – Robert Albury, Jr, Director WV Lawyer Assistance Program
• A Panel Discussion of Practicing Law in WV from the perspective of Women Attorneys – Judge Stephanie Thacker, United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals;Justice Elizabeth Walker, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia; Hazel Straub Crews, Retired; Dina M. Mohler, Office of General Counsel, Charleston Area Medical Center

Host:  United States District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia

Location: Clarksburg, WV

About: Attorneys and/or staff may attend one class. Attorneys completing the 2 1/2 hour class will earn 3 CLE credits for office management. There is no charge for the classes. Reservations are required, as there is a limit of 12 students per class.

Bridgeport Conference Center