Request for Comment on Proposed Revisions to Trial Court Rule 29, Relating to the Business Court Division
By order entered April 11, 2014, the Court approved a 30-day period of public comment on proposed revisions to Trial Court Rule 29, governing the Business Court Division. The public comment period closes on Monday, May 12, 2014. To review the proposed changes, click here
Request for Comment on Proposed Revisions to the Rules of Profession Conduct and Ancillary Matters
By order entered April 14, 2014, the Court approved a 60-day period of public comment on major revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct that are intended to update the rules in conformity with West Virginia law, and are largely patterned after the American Bar Association Model Rules of Professional Conduct. As a consequence of the proposed revisions to the Rules of Professional Conduct, two additional subject matters are affected: admission of out-of-state lawyers pro hac vice and the administration of client trust accounts, including the Interest on Lawyer’s Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. These two subject matters are addressed in Rule 8 of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law and proposed State Bar Administrative Rule 10, respectively. State Bar Administrative Rule 10 will form a part of a new set of rules that will replace the existing State Bar Rules and Regulations. The new State Bar Administrative Rules are still under development, and the remaining portions will be released for comment later this year. Because State Bar Administrative Rule 10 relates to the subject matter in the proposed amendments to Rule 1.15 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, it is appropriate for consideration as part of this package of rule changes. All practicing lawyers are encouraged to review the revisions carefully and submit comments. The public comment period closes on Friday, June 13, 2014. To review the proposed changes, click here.
2014 State Bar Annual Meeting
The State Bar is pleased to announce the 2014 Annual Meeting. The meeting will take place in Charleston on May 9 & 10th.
6 hours CLE, including 5 hours of ethics/law office management, will be offered. A banquet will be held May 9th recognizing 50 Year Members, State Bar Past Presidents, and Award winners.
Members of the Bar are invited to the retirement celebration for WVU Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus John Fisher on Wednesday, May 7, 2014, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the College’s new Event Hall. The John W. Fisher II Courtroom will be dedicated at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP with names of all attending by May 1, 2014, to margaret.obuch@mail.wvu.edu.
WVU Immigration Law Clinic
The USCIS Charleston Field Office, the only immigration service provider of its kind in West Virginia, will soon be relocating. Questions about this important move may be addressed to the WVU Immigration Law Clinic, atimmigrationclinicofwvu@gmail.com.
WV Public Defender Services
2014 Annual Conference: “We are in this together”
This year’s Annual Conference will be held June 12-13at Oglebay Resort & Conference Center. The event is for public defender and private attorneys committed to representing the indigent in criminal and family court, at all experience levels. Please monitor the PDS website at www.pds.wv.gov for more information as it becomes available. For questions, please contact Pamela Clark, CLRC Coordinator, at Pam.R.Clark@wv.gov
Legal Aid Ethics CLE
Legal Aid of West Virginia is hosting an ethics presentation, “Ethics Update,” presented by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel on Friday, May 2nd, 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. The ethics one hour CLE session will be presented live at Legal Aid’s Charleston office and will also be available via videoconference at each of Legal Aid’s local offices (Beckley, Clarksburg, Elkins, Huntington, Lewisburg, Logan, Parkersburg, Princeton, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Wheeling). There is no cost to attend the presentation. All bar members are welcome, though space is limited. RSVP to Kate White at kwhite@lawv.net or 304-343-4481, ext. 2167.
Defense Trial Counsel of WV
32nd Annual Meeting, Stonewall Resort, May 14 – 16, 2014, WV MCLE Credits Approved: 9.80 including 6.0 Ethics, Credits Pending: KY, OH. PA. For more information and for a copy of the registration form click here or contact Peggy Schultz, Executive Director at 304-344-1611 or by email atpschultz@dtcwv.org.
Upcoming Events
April 25, 2014
Appalachian Institute of Digital Evidence (AIDE)
2014 Annual Conference
Location: Capitol Conference Center in Charleston, WV
Location: Big Sandy Superstore Arena – Huntington, WV
The Mountain State Bar Association has a great line up of speakers offering a total of six (6) MCLE hours including two (2) ethic hours. Contact Attorney Dwight Staples for information 304-523-5732. Click here for the event brochure
May 29, 2014
Taming Your iPad, Outlook, and Document & Task Management Technology
Location: Big Sandy Superstore Arena – Huntington, WV