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Bar Blast -May 26, 2020

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May 26, 2020
WV STATE BAR OPERATIONS:  The State Bar continues to operate during normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.  Seminars and meetings continue to take place using the State Bar’s telephone conference and/or video conference capabilities.  Although the State Bar continues to operate, its physical offices are closed to in-person meetings until, at least, September 1, 2020, at which time circumstances will be re-evaluated.  All Bar members are strongly encouraged to use the State Bar’s telephone and video conference capabilities for meetings, depositions, hearings, seminars, etc.  Arrangements should be made by contacting Kathy Henning at henningk@wvbar.org or 304-553-7225.  Any concerns with the limited availability of the physical facility for use should be directed to Anita Casey at caseya@wvbar.org.   
2020 Annual Meeting
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COVID-19 Information 
The WV State Bar is continuing its COVID-19 Webinar series with panel discussions with Circuit Court Judges around the State addressing your concerns with our Courts and their dockets, practices, and procedures in the midst of COVID-19. 
 
WEBINAR 7
May 29, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
COVID-19 Webinar – CIRCUIT COURTS IN 
NORTH CENTRAL
 
CLE:  1.0 CLE Credit Hour in Law Office Management
PANELISTS:   Judge James A. Matish, Harrison County 
                       Judge Debra Scudiere, Monongalia County 
                       Judge Steven L. Shaffer, Preston County  
Moderator:  Shannon P. Smith, Esq. (Kay Casto & Chaney PLLC)
______________________________________________________
 
WEBINAR 8
June 2, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
COVID-19 Webinar – CIRCUIT COURTS 
ALONG 1-64 CORRIDOR
 
CLE:  1.0 CLE Credit Hour in Law Office Management
PANELISTS:   Judge Louis H. “Duke” Bloom, Kanawha County 
                       Judge Joseph K. Reeder, Putnam County 
                       Judge Gregory L. Howard, Cabell County  
Moderator: Tanya Hunt Handley (Handley Law Office)
 
_______________________________________________________
 
WEBINAR 9
June 4, 2020
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
COVID-19 Webinar – CIRCUIT COURTS IN 
NORTHERN PANHANDLE 
 
CLE:  1.0 CLE Credit Hour in Law Office Management
PANELISTS:   Judge Jason A. Cuomo, Brooke, Hancock, Ohio Counties 
    Judge David W. Hummel, Jr., Marshall, Tyler, Wetzel Counties
Moderator:  Mark A. Kepple (Bailey & Wyant, PLLC)
 
______________________________________________________
 
WEBINAR 10
June 12, 2020
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
COVID-19 Webinar – CIRCUIT COURTS IN 
EASTERN PANHANDLE 
 
CLE:  1.0 CLE Credit Hour in Law Office Management
PANELISTS:   Judge H. Charles Carl III, Hampshire, Hardy, Pendleton                                          Counties 
                        Judge Michael D. Lorensen, Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan                                      Counties
                        Judge Lynn A. Nelson – Grant, Mineral, Tucker Counties
Moderator:  James P. “Jay”  Geary II (Geary & Geary, LC)
Skype for Business Remote Hearing 
Training Schedule
 
The Supreme Court of Appeals of WV will conduct Skype for Business Remote Hearing Training for private attorneys on the following dates/times:
 
DATE                                     A.M. SESSION              P.M. SESSION
Tue. May 26, 2020:          10:00 – 10:50                2:30 – 3:20                 
Wed. May 27, 2020:        11:00 – 11:50                3:00 – 3:50
Thu. May 28, 2020:          10:00 – 10:50                2:30 – 3:20
Fri. May 29, 2020:            11:00 – 11:50                3:00 – 3:50
Each training session is worth 1-hour MCLE credit in Ethics/Office Management. The course number will be provided upon completion of training.
To register:  Send an email to adam.snider@courtswv.gov that includes the following:
  1. Names and emails of all attendees from your law office
  2. Date/s & time/s requested for each of your law office’s attendees 
You will then receive an email invite to the training. Please accept the invite, review the attached guide to download Skype for Business on your device, and click “Join Skype Meeting” to attend the training at your requested date/time.
 
A Guide to West Virginia Courts’ Resumption of Operations after Covid-19 Judicial Emergency 
The Bar acknowledges and thanks Past-President Thomas J. Hurney, Jr. for preparing the attached summary of protocols for reopening West Virginia State Courts and United States District Courts.
Access to WV County Courthouses
Many West Virginia county courthouses have closed their doors to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Each county is dealing with issues and may allow access as needed for such things as performing record reviews, including title searches.  To assist with contacting county officials, the West Virginia Association of Counties has provided contact information for County Officials.  To view the contact information for each County’s Assessor, Circuit Clerk, Commission, County Clerk, Prosecutor, and Sheriff click here.
Member Announcements
UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
Please be sure to log into the membership portal and verify or update your contact information by June 1.  The State Bar will be mailing orange postcard reminders of membership reporting and fees in June for the July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021 fiscal year.  
CLE Announcements
Supreme Court Extends CLE Reporting Period and Bridge the Gap Completion Dates
 
Due to ongoing CLE issues caused by 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 one-year extension for completion of the Bridge the Gap program for certain attorneys and an extension of the CLE reporting period to September 30, 2020.  The reporting period normally would have ended on June 30, 2020. 
Bridge the Gap Extension:
Attorneys admitted between July 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019, are granted a one-year extension to complete the Bridge the Gap program.  Therefore, those attorneys must complete the program within thirty-six months after their admission to the Bar.  The necessity for this extension was due to the cancellation of the April 2020 session of the Bridge the Gap course for new admittees.
CLE Reporting Period Extension:
  • All required CLE credits must be completed and reported by September 30, 2020, to avoid late filing fees.
  • An email reminder notice will be sent on August 31, 2020 to those attorneys who are not yet in CLE compliance.  
  • Credits submitted after October 1, 2020 for the 2018-2020 reporting period will require a $50 late filing fee.  Credit will not be entered until the late fee is paid.
  • Certified notice will be sent out as soon as practicable after October 1, 2020, to those attorneys who are in non-compliance after the September 30 reporting deadline.
  • Attorneys will have 30 days from the date of the certified notice of non-compliance to complete and file courses to attain CLE compliance.
  • A petition to suspend any attorney who does not attain CLE compliance within that 30 day period will be sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals.
  • Attorneys will be suspended until such time as they have established CLE compliance.  
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.   The temporary waiver is limited to the 2018-2020 reporting period. Please see the attached link for the full Order of the Court
Recorded Videos of State Bar Seminars 
Available for Viewing for Online Credit
Twenty-one  and one-half hours of 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), intellectual property law (3 credits), keeping healthy during the pandemic (1/2 credit in attorney well-being), maintaining ethics in crisis (1 credit in ethics), coronavirus relief legislation (2 credits), and WV Courts moving forward (1 credit in Law Office Management).  Links are provided below to view the videos and to report the credits upon completion. 
1.  Criminal Law – Click here for seminar link
2.  Succession Planning  – Click here for seminar link 
3.  Probate Law – Click here for seminar link
4.  Marijuana Law – Click here for seminar link
5.  Landlord Tenant Law – Click here for seminar link
6.  Intellectual Property Law – Click here for seminar link
 
NEW RECORDINGS:
7.  Keeping Yourself and Your Practice Health During the 
8.  Maintaining Ethics in a time of Crisis; WV Office of 
Disciplinary Counsel Click here for seminar link
9.  Coronavirus Relief Legislation – Breakdown of the available 
loans and employment and tax law changes Click here for seminar link
10. WV Courts moving forward:  A conversation with the 
Let us Help YOU Submit Your CLE Credits
Tips and Step-by-Step Directions on 
How to Submit Your CLE Credits
Per the Order of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, your CLE Reporting Period has been extended to September 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
June 4 – 5, 2020
62nd Annual WVAJ Convention & Seminar ONLINE!
Sponsor:    West Virginia Association for Justice
Location:    Online
CLE:    14.4 CLE credits, including 3.9 in ethics and law office management   
Open to all West Virginia attorneys.  The best high-quality, low-cost CLEs available–and you can attend from the comfort of your home or office.  Special discount available thru May 17!
Save the Date:  JULY 13, 2020 
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
FREE LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT WEBINAR
CLE:  3 credits in law office management
Speakers:  Stephen Embry, Esq.
 Brett Burney, Esq.
 Michael Mellace, MS
More information coming soon
Save the Date:  September 10, 2020 
Family Law CLE Date Rescheduled
Note:  Rescheduled from June 18, 2020
Come rain, shine, or COVID-19, the CLE will be held September 10, 2020. At this time, we plan to hold the CLE in person at the beautiful Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center. However, given the ever changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and depending on the circumstances prior to the CLE, some additional protective measures may be taken, possibly including the following:
Some or all speakers may appear virtually (i.e. Skype or Zoom).
The conference may be held virtually.
 
All registered attendees will be notified via e-mail regarding any
changes to the program or format. If you have questions, please contact Lyne Ranson at Lyne@lyneranson.com.
Host:  Kanawha County Family Law Bench Bar Committee
Location:   Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center
CLE:    8.9 credits – including 1.1 credits in law office management.  
Save the Dates
2021 Schedule for Basic Mediation and 
Advanced Mediation Training
March 3 and 4, 2021 – Basic Mediation Training – Flatwoods, WV
June 17, 2021 –Advanced Mediation Training – Bridgeport, WV
Registration will open in early 2021
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