BAR BLAST 12-23-2014

Important changes to the West Virginia pro hac vice admission procedures become effective January 1, 2015.  These changes include a new $350 annual fee to be paid by out-of-state lawyers admitted pro hac vice for one year or more.  The annual fee applies as long as the out-of-state lawyer has one or more cases pending in West Virginia.  The out-of-state lawyer is responsible for paying the fee.  Click here to review the September 29, 2014, Order

By implementation Order entered December 12, 2014, the Supreme Court authorized the State Bar to contact local counsel for out-of-state lawyers admitted during the past five years to determine whether the annual fee applies and to collect the fee. The fee must be paid on or before March 31, 2015, and by March 31 of each subsequent year until the case or matter is resolved.  The pro hac vice admission will be terminated if the March 31, 2015, deadline is not met.

The YLS Executive Committee has a vacancy for a District Representative for your District. If you are interested in serving on the YLS Executive Committee as a District Representative, please send an email to Jason Foster at Jason.foster@steptoe-johnson.com by January 6, 2014.

Lobbyists must complete (1) a WV Lobbyist Payment and Registration Information Cover Sheet; (2) a Lobbyist Registration Statement, and (3) an Employer Representation/Authorization form for each employer or entity represented.  These forms are available on the Ethics Commission’s website at www.ethics.wv.gov.

Registration fees are $100 per lobbyist and $100 per employer represented.

Contact Lobbyist Registrar Kimberly Pickens at (304)558-0664 or at  kimberly.p.pickens@wv.gov. with any questions.

In this season of giving, please donate to the West Virginia Fund for Law in the Public Interest (WVFLIPI).

All donations should be made out to WV Fund for Law in the Public Interest and sent to WVFLIPI, c/o P.O. Box 6130, Morgantown, WV  26506.  Please contact Jennifer Powell, Executive Director if you have any questions jennifer.powell@mail.wvu.edu ; or at 304 293 8555.

More Information

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals is excited to announce a new opportunity to access Judicial records digitally. We are piloting a web based system that will allow viewing of records digitally from a website that is accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Eventually this system will have records from all 55 counties. If you would like to participate in the testing phase of this service for a limited amount of counties being accessible, please email your desire toCCSEFile@courtswv.gov and we will randomly select users.

WV Working Together Conference

Host: IRS & West Virginia State Tax Department

Location: University of Charleston – Geary Student Union

WVCLE Litigation 2015

Host: West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (WVCLE)

Location: Cannan Valley Resort – Davis, WV

WVCLE Shale Play Update

Host: West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (WVCLE)

Location: Charleston Civic Center