BAR BLAST 11-25-2014

The American Bar Association’s Commission on the Future of Legal Services is conducting an examination of various topics related to the public’s access to legal services in the United States.  Its explanation of the study and its solicitation of comments may be accessed by clicking here.  Your comments may then be offered to the Commission by submission to Debra Scudiere, the State Bar’s Representative to the ABA House of Delegates, by December 5, 2014, by sending her an e-mail atdscudiere@kaycasto.com.

The West Virginia Bankers Association, the Community Bankers of West Virginia and the West Virginia State Bar have been working collaboratively to address questions created by the implementation of new State Bar Administrative Rule 10 related to the set up and administration of IOLTA accounts.  All three organizations are aware that the new Rule creates some confusions which may have to be addressed on an individual basis.  In the meantime, it is hoped that the attached set of Questions and Answers will answer many of your questions.  If not, please put your question in writing, to the attention of the IOLTA Advisory Committee, in care of Anita Casey, at caseya@wvbar.org, and the question will be addressed at the IOLTA Advisory Committee’s next meeting.  Click here for a copy of the Q and A.  Thank you for your patience and understanding in working through these changes to the Rule.

The West Virginia State Bar is excited to announce a new opportunity for attorneys to provide pro bono assistance to the public anytime, from anywhere.  West Virginia Online Legal Help(www.wvonlinelegalhelp.org) is a new website where low-income West Virginians can post questions about their civil legal needs.  The questions are answered by volunteer attorneys, who provide basic information and legal advice for free.

We need West Virginia attorneys to sign up to volunteer.  The benefits of volunteering include:

• No expectation of long-term representation.
• Professional liability insurance provided.
• Attorney’s name is anonymous to user.

Please go to www.wvonlinelegalhelp.org and click on “Lawyers Sign Up” to register to volunteer.  We hope to open the website to questions from the public in September 2014.

Click here for more information.

The Highlights of The New WV Rules of Professional Conduct

Host: West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (WVCLE) and the WV Office of Disciplinary Counsel

CLE: 2.1 WV MCLE credits, including 2.1 Ethics credits. Also applied for MCLE credit in VA, PA, and OH.

About: Significant amendments were made to the WV Rules of Professional Conduct effective January 1, 2015.  Click the location below to view more information and register.

Click location below to register:

Dec. 3 – Beckley

Dec. 4 – Lewisburg