BAR BLAST 09-11-2012 1

DELINQUENT DUES AND FRD COMPLIANCE REPORTING  

As of Septemeber 4, 2012 if you have not paid membership dues

 and submitted FRD Compliance reports then you will be charged a late fee of $25 for delinquent FRD and $25 for delinquent payment. If you need a replacement dues notice, FRD compliance form, or IOLTA compliance form please click here. Your State Bar number should be placed on all forms submitted. If you previously registered and have not completed payment and submission of FRD & IOLTA compliance forms please submit your information via paper form. For any questions concerning online submissions please contact Mike Mellace at MellaceM@wvbar.org.

LAWYER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR    

The West Virginia State Bar is seeking applicants for the position of Executive Director of the newly organized West Virginia
Lawyer Assistance Program (“WVLAP”).  The ideal applicant will be an experienced attorney with recovery experience.  However, experienced, credentialed professionals with an advanced degree in an appropriate field such as addiction, mental health, or employee assistance will be considered.  Applicants should understand the problems of professionals experiencing impairments such as substance abuse, addiction, gambling, mental/emotional issues, and other potentially debilitating conditions.  Superior communications and organizational skills are required, as is knowledge of evaluation and treatment methods.  PEIA health insurance, state retirement plan and other benefits are included or available.  The Executive Director will report to and be supervised by the WVLAP Board of Directors.  As an employee of the West Virginia State Bar, the WVLAP Executive Director will be precluded from engaging in the private practice of law.   Applications, in the form of a resume, with references, must be received on or before Monday, October 1, 2012 and should be sent to: WVLAP, The West Virginia State Bar, 2000 Deitrick Boulevard, Charleston, West Virginia 25311-1231 or emailed with attention to WVLAP at caseya@wvbar.org.

The West Virginia State Bar is seeking candidates for the position of Judge of the Court of Claims. If interested, provide a resume to the State Bar on or before December 31, 2012. The resume should be sent – Attention:  Court of Claims, 2000 Deitrick Blvd, Charleston, WV 25311. The Speaker and the President will make the appointment from a list of three candidates recommended by the Board of Governors of the State Bar. A minimum of ten (10) years’ experience as a licensed attorney is required. This position involves hearing and deciding claims filed against state agencies and the Crime Victims Fund. The main offices of the Court 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. SeeW.VA. CODE §14-2-4,8,9, & 10 AND §14-2A-1 ET AL.

Questions: Contact Cheryle Hall at 304.347.4851

WVCLE, sponsored by The West Virginia State Bar and the WVU College of Law, will present the “Insurance Law” seminar on September 21-22, 2012, live at the WVU College of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia.  Speakers include:  Professor Thomas C. Cady, Ancil G. Ramey, Vincent J. King, John J. Polak, Eric J. Hulett, Cheryl A. Fisher, Paul K. Reese, John R. McGhee, Erika Klie Kolenich, Thomas J. Hurney, and Burke A. Christensen.  This seminar is accredited for 9.6 WV MCLE credits, including 1.2 Ethics credits.  The seminar begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning and adjourns at 11:30 a.m. Saturday morning.  If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

The West Virginia Tax Institute, sponsored by The West Virginia Bar Association, The West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accounts, The College of Law, the College of Business and Economics and West Virginia University, will present the 63rd Annual Meeting beginning Sunday evening, September 23, 2012 and continuing through 12:30 pm on Tuesday afternoon, September 25, 2012 at The Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown, West Virginia.  Lynn Nichols will kick off the seminar on Sunday evening with the recent Federal Tax Updates.  Monday will include topics on the anticipated 2013 estate tax changes, Capitalization Regs under 263 topic, R&D Credit, FBAR FATCA Reporting Issues, Independent and Ethical Consideration in Tax Practice, What’s Happening on Capitol Hill and Employee vs  Independent Contractor issues.  Tuesday’s program will be dominated by the West Virginia State Tax Department,  but will also include a topic on the Marcellus Shale, as well as the West Virginia Uniform Trust Code.  This seminar qualifies for 16 hours of CLE and CPE, including 2 hours of ethics.  Further information, including registration information, can be found at www.wvtaxinstitute.com or by calling Ilena Thomas at 304-624-6555.

SEPTEMBER 28-29, 2012 – UPDATE ON THE LAW SEMINAR FEATURING BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT KENNETH W. STARR

WVCLE, sponsored by The West Virginia State Bar and the WVU College of Law, will present the “Update on the Law” seminar on September 28-29, 2012, live at the WVU College of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia.  We are honored to have Baylor President Kenneth W. Starr as our keynote faculty.  Judge Starr has served as U.S. Solicitor General of the United States, as United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger, and as Independent Counsel for five federal investigations.  Other speakers include:  Professor Thomas C. Cady, Marcia Broughton, Andrew S. Graham, Gerald W. Townsend, Professor Robert M. Bastress, Briana J. Marino, Renee N. Frymyer, Professor Marjorie McDiarmid, and Charles D. Dunbar.  This seminar is accredited for 8.6 WV MCLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credits.  We have also applied for MCLE credits in OH, PA, KY, and VA.  The seminar begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning and adjourns at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning.  If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

and Wheeling Jesuit University will be held on October 23, 2012 on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling.  Our featured presentation this year is Jeffrey Wright, tax leader in the oil and gas industry practice of Deloitte & Touche’s Houston, Texas office, speaking on Oil and Gas Tax Considerations from the Landowner’s Perspective.  Other topics include Creative Charitable Planning with Non-Cash Assets, Economic Update, Ethics, and Income Tax Legislation Update. For additional information on the program and to register click here. If you have questions, contact Cathy Rector at Wheeling Jesuit University atrector@wju.edu. You may also contact Robert J. Krall, Esq., Chairman of the Institute at rkrall@hmhy.com or 304-242-2300.  CLE credits are approved for West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, including an hour of ethics credit.

Registration is open for guardian ad litem (GAL) training sponsored by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.  The training will take place November 14, 2012, at the Charleston Civic Center, andNovember 16, 2012, at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown.  All attorneys who wish to be appointed as family court GALs must have this training before January 1, 2013.  All attorneys who want to be appointed as GALs in child abuse/neglect cases must have approved training before July 1, 2013.  This training will satisfy the requirements for both types of GALs.  There is no registration fee, but online pre-registration is required.  To register for the Charleston training, please CLICK HERE.  To register for the Morgantown training, please CLICK HERE.