BAR BLAST 09-25-2012

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 DISCIPLINARY BOARD REQUEST FOR COMMENTS: SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT COMMITTEE

The Lawyer Disciplinary Board has received a request for an opinion concerning the “indemnify and hold harmless” language contained in settlement agreements. The Committee has drafted an L.E.O. to address this issue, and is soliciting public comments thereon. Click here for a copy of the L.E.O. Please submit your written comments to the Settlement Agreement Committee, c/o Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304. Deadline for submissions:October 12, 2012.

The West Virginia Supreme Court recently enacted Rules of the West Virginia Lawyer Assistance Program (WVLAP).  

These rules establish a program designed to provide help for lawyers who suffer from any physical or mental health condition that may affect their ability to practice law.  Rule 4 addresses ‘volunteers’ and permits the enlistment of “volunteer lawyers and judges whose responsibilities may include: assisting in interventions; serving as twelve-step program sponsors and/or recovery mentors; acting as local contact for members of the legal profession seeking help from the WVLAP; acting as a contact between WVLAP and the courts, the Lawyer Disciplinary Board, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and other State bar organizations, committees, and law schools; providing compliance monitoring as may be appropriate; and performing any other function deemed appropriate and necessary by the Board to fulfill its purposes.”

The WVLAP Board of Directors would like to hear from those interested in serving as a volunteer.  One of the first functions the Board hopes to establish with the assistance of such volunteers is development and implementation of lawyer support groups throughout the state.

If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, or if you have any questions about it, please contact WVLAP Board members Karen Kahle (304-231-0441, Karen.kahle@steptoe-johnson.com) or Kevin Mills (304-224-1010, kmills@wvacriminaldefense.com), or State Bar Director Anita Casey (304-558-7993, caseya@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.

YOUNG LAWYER SECTION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VACANCY

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.

TAX CREDITS FOR ATTORNEYS!

Haven’t yet made your annual contribution to the Campaign for Legal Aid?  Now is the time – Legal Aid now has over $38,000 of Neighborhood Investment Program Tax Credits available to donors!  Donors may use NIP tax credits on WV State Personal Income Tax, Corporate Net Income Tax and Business Franchise Tax.  The minimum eligible donation to receive Neighborhood Investment Program tax credits is $500.00.  In return, LAWV will send you a Tax Credit voucher equal to 50% of your donation.  For example, if you send LAWV $1,000, we’ll send you back $500 in the form of a WV State Tax Credit — it’s that easy!  The NIP Tax Credits are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, contact LAWV’s Jennifer Jordan at 304.414.5438 or jjordan@lawv.net.  The NIP Credits truly will be gone before the year’s end… get them while you can!

GREATER KANAWHA VALLEY FOUNDATION

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.

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.

The Judges of the U.S. District  Court  for  the Northern District of West Virginia  cordially invite you to attend the formal investiture  ceremony  of  United  States District Judge  Gina M. Groh on Friday, October 19, 2012, at 1:00  p.m. at Shepherd University, Frank Center – Shipley   Recital  Hall,  100  West  Campus Drive, Shepherdstown, WV.  A reception will follow at the Shepherd University Wellness Center.  There will be security   present   at   the   ceremony. Security regulations require each  individual  to  show an official  photo identification before being granted access.   No guns or weapons of any kind will be permitted in the building.   If you plan to attend, please RSVP by October 12, 2012, to Kim A. Criswell at (304)234-0380 or kim_criswell@wvnd.uscourts.gov.

WVCLE, sponsored by The West Virginia State Bar and the WVU College of Law, will present the “Family Law” seminar on October 19-20, 2012, live at the WVU College of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia.  Speakers include:  Lyne Ranson, Andrew S. Nason, The Honorable Patricia Keller, Professor Marjorie McDiarmid, The Honorable David P. Greenberg, Professor Kendra Fershee, Andrea J. Hinerman, J. Jeffrey Culpepper, The Honorable Sally G. Jackson, Lorraine M. Eckard, Dean Dawson, Lisa Lynn, Roger A. Griffith, and Daniel L. Selby.  This seminar is accredited for 10.0 WV MCLE credits, including 1.2 ethics credits.  It is also accredited for 8.0 OH MCLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credits, 8.25 KY MCLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credits, and 8.5 PA MCLE credits, including 1.0 ethics credits.  The seminar begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning and adjourns at 11:20 a.m. Saturday morning.  If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HEREor call (304) 293-7255.