BAR BLAST 7-2-2013

In order to insure that your PLLC is in compliance with the laws of The State of West Virginia, you need to file an annual renewal application with The State Bar. Any change in the corporate organization from the prior year must be reported and copies of current certificates of insurance are required. Every PLLC must also register an email address.

If your organization renewed online last year click here to login. If not, please click here to register to complete your online renewal. PLLC Annual Renewals are due by July 1, 2013.  If you have questions concerning PLLC reporting requirements contact Anita R. Casey at 304-553-7228 or caseya@wvbar.org. If you have questions concerning the process for online filing contact Mike Mellace at 304-553-7223 or mellacem@wvbar.org.

The Criminal Law Committee will be sponsoring an update on the law, free, one hour CLE seminar on July 15th at noon at The State Bar Center. Tom Smith will be the presenter. The seminar will include lunch but will be limited to the first 35 registrants. Please advise Kathy Henning if you will be attending by contacting her at henningk@wvbar.org before July 12.

Volume 116 of the West Virginia Law Review will be publishing the second-annual Energy and Sustainability Issue and is looking for articles discussing environmental, natural resource, energy, and related policy topics. Anyone interested in writing an article for this issue should submit a 1000-word proposal describing the article’s specific topic, including why the topic is important and how the article will relate to the theme of the issue. Proposals should be sent to Imad S. Matini or Alan J. Wilson at imad.s.matini@gmail.com or awilso50@mix.wvu.edu, respectively. You can find more information here.

Effective July 12, 2013, pursuant to West Virginia Code §46-9-525, (Senate Bill 426 – 2013 Legislative Session) the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office is required to implement fee changes for all Uniform Commercial Code Filings and Uniform Commercial Code Searches.

The State Bar’s Minority Lawyers Committee is sponsoring a reception for all minority summer law clerks on July 11, 2013, from 5:00 to 7:00.  The reception will be held at the State Bar Center.  Please come to meet and welcome these rising stars.  If you plan to attend or have any questions, please contact Kathy Henning at henningk@wvbar.org by Monday, July 8.

The current 2012-2014 MCLE reporting period does not end until June 30, 2014. We are working diligently to get MCLE submissions online again very shortly. You can submit a paper form from our website or wait until our new system is up for online submissions. Thank you for your patience as we upgrade our new system.

Beginning on September 1, 2013 any attorney who attends a CLE held at a location outside of West Virginia must confirm with the seminar sponsor that the seminar sponsor has paid the appropriate fee for approval of the seminar to the West Virginia State Bar.  If the seminar sponsor is not a West Virginia State Bar presumptive provider (i.e. has paid the $500 yearly sponsor fee) or has not paid $50 for approval of the specific seminar, each individual attorney wishing to receive WV MCLE credit for the course must complete Form A (add link here) and remit a $20 processing fee to the West Virginia State Bar.

All seminars that have been pre-approved will be listed by provider on the new WV State Bar membership portal in a drop down menu on the MCLE screen.  Seminar sponsors are being required by the WV State Bar MCLE Commission to provide a list of attendees within 30 days following each approved seminar.  If you are unable to locate your seminar on the website more than 30 days after attending the same, and you believe that your seminar was pre-approved, please contactcompliance@wvbar.org.

The YLS has launched its WV Bar Exam Support page on Facebook and Twitter.  The YLS created these social media outlets so that our young lawyers can offer support, encouragement, and advice to those taking the WV Bar Exam in July.  With the direction of District 14 YLS Representative, Shannon Smith, and young lawyer, Lindsey Saad, the WV Bar Exam Support answers questions, and gives exam takers tips and tricks to taking the bar exam.   Also, a list of “mentors” for each of the WV State Bar Districts is provided to our “followers” to help facilitate one-on-one contact with a lawyer in their area.   If you know of anyone who could use moral support while studying for the bar exam, please have them “like” our Facebook page (West Virginia Bar Exam Support) or follow us on Twitter.

The West Virginia Commission on Uniform State Laws is established by statute to work with Commissioners from other states in the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) to develop uniform and model state acts, and when appropriate work with the West Virginia State Legislature to get them enacted into law in West Virginia.  By statute, the Commission issues an annual report.  Click here to view a copy of the 2013 Report to the Legislature.

The State Bar is updating the Practice Handbook Chapters, which are located on the YLS website and is requesting volunteers to either update existing handbook chapters or author needed chapters. Click here for a full list.

Please consider helping the State Bar and lawyers throughout the State by volunteering.  Contact Shannon Smith and Jamie O’Brien.

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