BAR BLAST 09-19-2012

DELINQUENT DUES AND FRD COMPLIANCE REPORTING  

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

and submitted FRD Compliance reports, a late fee of of $25 for delinquent FRD and a separate late fee of $25 for delinquent dues payment has been automatically attached to your account. 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. The final deadline is November 19th, 2012 before suspension for nonpayment of dues and nonsubmission of the Financial Responsibility Disclusure form.  For any questions concerning delinquent dues and compliance please contact Cheryl Petty at membership@wvbar.org.

PROFESSIONAL LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES

The West Virginia State Bar has been working with the Secretary of State’s Office for the past few years attempting to reconcile records of law related PLLCs.  Since the State Bar has computerize many of its records, it has been easier to locate potential discrepancies between the two organization’s records.  To insure that your PLLC is properly listed with both organizations, please make sure that you have renewed your organization either through online submission atwww.wvbar.org or click here for a PLLC annual renewal form. Any questions please contact Anita Casey at casey@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 YLS Executive Committee has a vacancy for District 10 (Mercer, Monroe, and Summers Counties). If you practice in District 10 and are interested in serving on the YLS Executive Committee, please send an email to Jason Foster at Jason.foster@steptoe-johnson.com bySeptember 31, 2012.

A position on the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Board of Trustees is open.  The West Virginia State Bar has been asked to recommend three potential candidates for consideration for that position.  If you are a resident of Kanawha, Boone, Clay, Lincoln, Putnam or Fayette County, and are interested in serving on The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Board, please submit your resume for consideration.  Resumes, with any letters of recommendation, must be received by midnight on Sunday, October 7 and can be submitted by email to caseya@wvbar.org or by US Postal mail addressed to The West Virginia State Bar, Attention:  Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation Nominations, 2000 Deitrick Boulevard, Charleston, WV 25311.  The State Bar’s Board of Governors will select up to three candidates, for consideration by the Foundation’s Nominating Committee, at the Board of Governors meeting on October 26-27.  To view the expectations of the Foundation for the Trustee position click here.  Questions concerning the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation or serving on its Board should be directed to Becky Ceperley, President and CEO, Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, 304-346-3620.

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.

The State Bar will begin its annual set of Regional Meetings onOctober 2, 2012.  The meetings are scheduled for:

Wheeling – October 2

Parkersburg – October 3

Huntington – October 4

Bridgeport – October 16

Moorefield – October 17

Martinsburg – October 18

Beckley – October 23

Charleston – October 24

Morgantown – October 25

The meetings will begin at 10:30 a.m., include a lunch, and should end by 1:30 p.m. The meetings will provide a total of 3.0 MCLE credit hours in legal ethics, office management, substance abuse and/or elimination of bias. The cost is $100 per person. A copy of the agenda and a listing of specific locations for the meetings will be provided at a later date.

CLICK HERE to register via paper form or CLICK HERE to register and pay online.