WEST VIRGINIA STATE BAR

POLICY AND FEE SCHEDULE FOR RESPONDING TO FOIA REQUESTS

As a public body, the West Virginia State Bar accepts and responds to requests for public records pursuant to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, W.Va. Code §29B-1-1 et seq.  Requests for public documents must be in writing, and should identify with reasonable specificity the information sought.

The West Virginia State Bar’s hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Requests submitted outside of regular business hours will be received by the State Bar on the next business day.  Requests should be addressed to the Executive Director, and may be submitted as follows:

US MAIL: West Virginia State Bar, 2000 Deitrick Boulevard, Charleston, WV  25311

VIA E-MAIL: pickensmj@wvbar.org

VIA FACSIMILE : (304)553-7237  

If a request specifically asks for public documents to be provided in electronic format, and if the requested documents exist in electronic format at the time the request is made, the State Bar will provide electronic copies unless, for some reason, the electronic record is not susceptible to electronic reproduction.  Electronic records will be produced on disc or flash drive, as appropriate to the request.  In limited circumstances, it may be possible to provide responsible documents to the requestor via e-mail transmission, depending upon the volume and format of responsive public documents a request yields.

West Virginia law permits the State Bar to establish fees reasonably calculated to reimburse it for the actual costs incurred in making reproductions of requested public records.  It is the current policy of the State Bar to assess the following fees with respect to all requests for copies of public documents.

Paper copies:                .50 cents per page

Electronic copies:         $1.00 per disc or $5.00 per flash drive

Postage:                           Actual cost

If requests are made for information on attorneys in excess of ten members, the State Bar will provide a copy of the Directory to the requestor, at the State Bar’s cost.  Payment is required prior to receiving the requested information.  The Executive Director, at his or her discretion, may elect to waive all or part of any fee.  In lieu of receiving copies, a requestor may set an appointment to inspect responsive public documents at the State Bar’s office during normal business hours with no fee assessed.

The West Virginia State Bar reserves the right to assert any and all exemptions and/or exceptions to the production or inspection of requested documents which are permitted by West Virginia law.

Adopted by the West Virginia State Bar on April 7, 2019.