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Bar Blast -March 31, 2020

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March 31, 2020
2020 Annual Meeting
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COVID-19 Information 
WV STATE BAR COVID-19 INFORMATION & PLAN
At this time, the State Bar will continue to operate normal office hours.  However, to comply with the mandates on social gatherings and contacts, the Bar is limiting access to the Bar Center.  Before coming to the State Bar Center, please call 304-553-7220.  The Bar will assist with remote video services, upon request.  The State Bar is providing information and announcements as quickly as possible.  For up-to-date COVID-19 announcements and preparedness resources, visit the West Virginia State Bar website by  clicking here  and watch for Facebook announcements.  Also, visit the Supreme Court website for Administrative Orders issued by the Court and visit the websites of all state and federal agencies for updated information on their current policies and procedures.
How you can help lessen the impact of 
COVID 19 issue from home
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.
News/Announcements
New Board of Governors and Young Lawyers Executive Committee Members
The West Virginia State Bar is pleased to announce the newly elected BOG & YLS members. 
 
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
DISTRICT 6 – WILLIAM C. DUTY –  WILLIAMSON
DISTRICT 7 – ROBERT B. KUENZEL, II –  CHAPMANVILLE
DISTRICT 8 – ROBBY J. ALIFF – CHARLESTON
DISTRICT 8 – GERALD M. TITUS, III – CHARLESTON
DISTRICT 8 – JONATHAN T. STORAGE –  CHARLESTON
DISTRICT 8 – TIMOTHY C. BAILEY –  CHARLESTON
 
YOUNG LAWYERS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
DISTRICT 6 – ROBIN PAIGE CISCO –  WILLIAMSON
DISTRICT 7 – KASSIE NICOLE BALL –  MADISON
DISTRICT 8 – JESSICA ROBEY – CHARLESTON
DISTRICT 8 – JOSEPH A. FORD – CHARLESTON
Temporary Waiver of Online Continuing Legal Education Credit Limit
Due to concerns associated with the COVID-19 virus, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has granted a request from the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a temporary waiver of current CLE rules and regulations which limit the CLE credits for online and in-house credits to 12 credits, or half of the mandatory continuing legal education requirements. Attorneys will now be able to earn all or any portion of the required 24 CLE credit minimum through video, audio, correspondence, telephone seminars, computer-based training courses and in-house instruction, so long as the courses otherwise satisfy the requirements of the CLE rules and regulations and are approved for CLE credit in West Virginia.  Several CLE providers are converting their live seminars to webinar format due to the coronavirus.  Webinars are approved as online CLE credit under the current CLE rules; therefore, they are included in this waiver.  The temporary waiver is limited to the 2018-2020 reporting period ending June 30, 2020. Please see the attached link for the full Order of the Court
Recorded Videos of State Bar Seminars 
Available for Viewing for Online Credit
Seventeen online CLE credits are currently available to attorneys through viewing recorded videos of previous State Bar seminars.  The subject matters are criminal law (2 credit), succession planning (3 credits, including 3 credits in Law Office Management), probate law(3 credits), marijuana law (3 credits, including 1/2 ethics credit),  landlord tenant law(3 credits) and intellectual property law (3 credits).  Links are provided below to view the videos and to report the credits upon completion. 
Criminal Law – Click her for seminar link
Succession Planing  – Click here for seminar link 
Probate Law – Click here for seminar link
Marijuana Law – Click here for seminar link
Landlord Tenant Law – Click here for seminar link
Intellectual Propery Law – Click here for seminar link
Keep watching the West Virginia State Bar website and Facebook for updates regarding Continuing Legal Education.  The CLE Commission is meeting on March 26th.  Currently the reporting period ends on June 30, 2020. 
Let us Help YOU Submit Your CLE Credits
Tips and Step-by-Step Directions on 
How to Submit Your CLE Credits
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.  
Court Improvement Program
MDT Project
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
Contact information for Gabe Conley is  304-340-2900 (office) or email Gabriel.Conley@courtswv.gov  and for Brenda Hoylman office number 304-340-2928 or email Brenda.Hoylman@courtsw.gov
Upcoming Events
April 30, 2020 9:30 a.m.
Free SafetyWebinar
Active Shooter Training
Deputy Chief Paul Perdue, Charleston Police Department, is offering
active shooter training to all Bar members and their staff. The training session will be provided via Webinar only and is free to attend. Registration is required.
Registration coming soon
Registration cutoff is 5:00 p.m. on April 29, 2020.
May 13, 2020 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Free Ethics Webinar
CLE:  3 CLE  credits
Host:  State Bar
Speaker:  Sean Carter – Harvard Law School graduate with 10 years of legal practice focused on corporate securities and mergers and acquisitions. He left the practice of law to pursue  a career as the country’s foremost Humorist at Law. He has since delivered comedic professional educational seminars for more than 400 organizations in more than 40 states.
Registration coming soon
May 29, 2020 8:30 a.m.
MSBA ANNUAL SEMINAR and BANQUET 
Location:  Doubletree by Hilton, Huntington, WV
Host:   Mountain State Bar Association
CLE:  7 CLE credits including 3 ethics/law office management/attorney wellbeing/ elimination of bias
JUNE 17 AND 18, 2020
The West Virginia State Bar
Basic Mediation Training
Location:  Days Inn & Suites, Flatwoods, West Virginia 
Host:  State Bar ADR Committee
CLE:   16.2 CLE credits including in 1.0 Ethics
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Days Inn & Suites at the discounted rate of $97.19 plus and taxes and fees.  To receive the discounted rate, inform the hotel that you are attending the WV State Bar’s event when making your reservation.  The reservation contact number is 304-765-5055.  The cut-off date to reserve a room at the reduced rate is June 6.  Rooms go to full rate after June 6.   Click here to review agenda        
Registration coming soon.
THIS TRAINING IS OFFERED EVERY OTHER YEAR AND WILL NOT BE OFFERED AGAIN UNTIL 2022.
June 18, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
HOT TOPICS FOR GOVERNMENT LAWYERS
Location:   WV House of Delegates Chamber
  State Capitol Complex, Charleston
More information and registration coming soon.
June 18, 2020 
Family Law CLE
Note:  Rescheduled from April 3, 2020
Host:  Kanawha County Family Law Bench Bar Committee
Location:   Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center
CLE:    8.9 hours – including 1.1 credits in law office management.  
A block of hotel rooms is reserved at the Charleston Marriott Town Center for June 17 and June 18, 2020 at the low rate of $96 plus tax and fees per night. If you would like to make a reservation you can call Marriott Reservations at 1 (800) 228-9290.  When calling, please identify yourself as part of the “June 18 CLE group.”
Save the Date:  JULY 15, 2020
The West Virginia State Bar
ADVANCED MEDIATION TRAINING
Location:  Bridgeport Conference Center, Bridgeport, WV
Host: State Bar ADR Committee
A block of rooms has been reserved for the night of July 14 at the Bridgeport Wingate Inn at the  discounted rate of $96.00 plus taxes & fees.  To receive the discounted rate, inform the hotel that you are attending the WV State Bar’s event when making your reservation.  The reservation contact number is 304-808-1000.  The cut-off date to reserve a room at the reduced rate is July 1.  Rooms go to full rate after July 1.   
Registration coming soon.
*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. 
 

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