On June 17, all members were mailed a membership reporting and fees post-card. Click here for a sample copy of the post
card. This post-card will give you instructions on how to pay your 2013-14 membership fees and complete your FRD and IOLTA reporting online. You are encouraged to use the online reporting option. Well in advance of the September 3, reporting deadline, you should confirm that you have a password and are familiar with the system. You do not want encounter problems at the end of the reporting period that may negatively impact your ability to submit your information and subject you to late reporting penalties. A firm administrator may also register to do all the payment of fees and reporting of FRD and IOLTA for the entire firm. If you wish to continue with paper reporting, forms will be available on The State Bar’s website. There is a $10.00 processing fee for all paper submissions, which must be paid at the time of submission.Members who wish to file online and select to pay by check are not subject to the $10 processing fee. Questions: contact Anita Casey atcaseya@wvbar.org
In an effort to better understand how West Virginia lawyers are helping to meet the legal needs of West Virginians, the Access to Justice Commission of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is conducting a survey of members of the State Bar to gain more information about your experiences in performing pro bono work. Recognizing that lawyers often provide legal assistance in a variety of ways at little or no costs to clients, the Access to Justice Commission wants to hear from you to determine the types of pro bono work being performed, as well as what we can do to better recognize and increase such efforts.
On August 2, 2013, The State Bar Board of Governors authorized a change on the website which will make email addresses of members visible to other members. Log intowww.mywvbar.org and use the membership search functionality. The public will not have access to member email addresses through the website. Members must be logged into our website to use this functionality.
Lawyer Referrals
If you are unable to assist a potential client with a legal matter, please refer the individual to the lawyer referral website (www.wvlawyerreferral.org). The website provides 24/7 access and allows clients to select the attorney(s) they may wish to contact both by subject area and by distance/location. Although the website does not yet contain detailed information on practice areas, the Bar is working on supplementing information of general interest, by subject area, and providing links to services and other websites which may be used by the potential client to evaluate whether a referral to an attorney is needed. Please be sure to notify your staff of this new service. Questions? Contact Anita Casey at caseya@wvbar.org.
Tri-State Tax Institute
The 56th annual tax seminar sponsored by the Tri-State Tax Institute and Wheeling Jesuit University will be held on October 8, 2013 on the campus of Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling. Our presentations this year include Samuel Donaldson of Georgia State University, discussing new federal tax legislation, Michael Bourland of Bourland, Wall & Wenzel, Ft. Worth Texas, discussing estate and income tax planning with mineral interests. Other presentation topics include, tax preparer and advisor rule changes; economic update and income tax legislation update. For additional information on the program and to register click here. If you have questions, contact Paula Ullom at Wheeling Jesuit University at pullom@wju.edu. You may also contact Robert J. Krall, Esq., Chairman of the Institute at rkrall@hmhy.com or 304-242-2300. CLE credits are approved for West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania, including an hour of ethics credit.
Unified Operating System in Clerks’ Offices
On August 8, 2013 a press release was issued from the Supreme Court of Appeals regarding a development that has been directed by the Court that will administratively affect the practice of law in West Virginia: a unified e-filing system that will be developed in every West Virginia county during the next two to three years. The passage from the report contained in the press release that outlines the e-filing initiative is quoted in the link below.
WVCLE Family Law Institute Seminar
Speakers include: Andrew S. Nason, The Honorable Mike Kelly, Scott N. Friedman, Rachel L. Fletcher Cipoletti, Cindy MacAulay, Virginia Supcoe, Richard A. Bush, Dean Boland, Delby Pool, and Reed Spangler. This seminar is accredited for 9.8 WV MCLE credits, including 3.8 ethics and law office management credits.