Bar Blast – October 27, 2020

October 27, 2020

WV STATE BAR OFFICE ACCESS DURING COVID-19

The Bar Center will remain closed through the end of the year for all in-person access. Bar staff will remain available, via telephone or email, during normal operating hours to answer questions. The Bar can be reached by calling 304-553-7220.

News

TUESDAY LEGAL CONNECT

The State Bar is in need of volunteer attorneys on Tuesday evenings, during October and December 2020, to field legal questions from the public as part of the “Tuesday Legal Connect” program.

Volunteers from anywhere in the state can now work remotely from their home, office, etc. All the volunteer needs is a telephone and computer/tablet etc. If you would be interested in helping in October or December, please email David Frercks as soon as possible.

11^th Family Court Circuit Vacancy

The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is currently receiving applications to fill the judicial vacancy on the 11^th Family Court Circuit serving Kanawha County. Candidates must submit their completed applications and letters of recommendation or comment no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 9, 2020. Applications and instructions are available on the Governor’s website. Click here for link. For more information about the application process, please call Manda Bickoff at 304-558-2000. Interviews will be held in on November 19, 2020

Position Open for Commissioner of

WV Legislative Claims Commission

The West Virginia State Bar is seeking candidates for the position of Commissioner of the Legislative Claims Commission. The State Bar Board of Governors will nominate three (3) lawyers and will submit these names to the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate for appointment to the Claims Commission. The term is for six (6) years. A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience as a licensed attorney is required. A full description of qualifications can be found in W.Va. Code Section 14-2-4 and 14-2-10, and compensation is provided for in W. Va. Code Section 14-2-8. This position involves hearing and deciding claims filed against state agencies and the Crime Victims Compensation Fund. The main offices of the Claims Commission are at the State Capitol with travel to other parts of the state for hearings. Some administrative law, mediation, or other judicial experience would be beneficial.

If you qualify for appointment, and would like to be considered for nomination, please send your letter of interest and resume, with all supporting information and letters of reference – in one packet – to Anita R. Casey, Executive Director, The West Virginia State Bar, 2000 Deitrick Blvd., Charleston, WV 25311 or caseya@wvbar.org. Nominations must be received, via email or regular mail with a Receipt/Postmark date/time of no later than 11:59 p.m., December 30, 2020.

FASTCASE – Free Training

Throughout October, the Fastcase outreach team will be hosting free live training sessions each Wednesday at 2:00 PM EST. Join a guided walk-through of the new Fastcase, as outreach explains new features, layouts, and search basics compared to Fastcase 6. Also newly available in Fastcase 7 is the ability to directly print a document from your browser, without downloading it. Click here to register

At Fastcase we’re proud to provide industry-leading customer support. Click here for the Support & Tutorials page to learn how to conduct better legal research with video tutorials and reference guides, or live-chat with one of our expert reference attorneys for real-time assistance.

West Virginia Courts Transition to Microsoft Teams for

Remote Hearings and Proceedings

West Virginia courts are transitioning from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams over the next two months. Below is information to assist you with participating in remote hearings and proceedings scheduled by the courts during the transition.

Until October 31, 2020, courts will have the ability to schedule with both Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams.
After this date, all new remote hearings will be scheduled in Microsoft Teams.
Any Skype for Business meeting scheduled before October 31, 2020 will continue to function as expected after this deadline.
You can join on the Web without downloading special software, however, you can also join via the Teams app, if available.
The Teams app is available for smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, and the app simplifies participation on these devices.
A Microsoft Teams Quick Guide for Participants is available on the West Virginia Judiciary website. Click on the Remote Hearing Information link under the Lower Courts section of the Home Page.

Requests for Public Comment

Request for Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to the

Rules of Appellate Procedure

By order entered on September 17, 2020, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia published for comment amendments to Rules 19 and 20 the Rules of Appellate Procedure. The proposed amendments would give the guardian ad litem in a case time to present oral argument separate from the time allotted to the petitioner and respondent. The Court also considered amendments to Rule 7, requiring the Appendix Record in an electronic format. The public comment period closes on October 30, 2020. Comments are to be filed in writing with the Clerk.

Click here to review the Order proposing the changes to Rules.

Events

West Virginia Shale Law Seminar

November 5-6, 2020

12:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. each day

Host: West Virginia Continuing Legal Education

Location: Live Webinar

Cost: $325

CLE: 8.0 credits including 1.0 ethics/E.O.B.

Click the link to register: https://wvcle.wvu.edu/seminars/west-virginia-shale-law-seminar-2020

Questions contact Lauren McCartney at lauren.mccartney@mail.wvu.edu

Veteran and Military Affairs Committee Annual CLE Webinar

and Virtual Day of Service

NOVEMBER 10, 2020 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Host: The West Virginia State Bar’s Veterans & Military Affairs Committee

CLE: 3 general credits

Speakers/Topics:

Matthew Kelly – Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA): Intro & Overview
Brian Lawler & Stephen Butera – USERRA: Case Law Developments Concerning O’Farrell et al
Victoria Gorby – VA Disability Law – A Practitioner’s Perspective

Locations: Live Zoom Meeting

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the November 10, 2020 program will be held virtually. In-person programs will return as soon as feasible.

Click Here to Register

BRIDGE THE GAP

NOVEMBER 13, 2020 – 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Section Bridge the Gap Program

Each newly admitted member of the State Bar is required to complete a mandatory Bridge the Gap Program. Members admitted after July 1, 2018 or attorneys admitted prior to July 1, 2018, who have not previously completed the Bridge the Gap requirements, may attend the live course and satisfy the mandatory Bridge the Gap requirements.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, the November 13, 2020 program will be held virtually. Bridge the Gap will return to an in-person program as soon as feasible.

Click Here to Register

CLE Announcements

Extension of the Bridge the Gap Requirement

Attorneys admitted to the WV State Bar between May 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020 have been granted a one-year extension of time to complete mandatory the Bridge-the-Gap Program.

This extension is in addition to the one-year extension previously granted by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to those admitted between July 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019. A determination was made that additional attorneys were adversely affected by the cancellation of the Bridge-the-Gap program scheduled in April 2020 due to COVID.

Click here to see the Order of the Court