BAR BLAST – August 11, 2015

Annual Membership Reporting & Fees

The deadline for Reporting and Fee payment is midnight, September 1, 2015. For more information on how to complete this process go to www.wvbar.org.

Member Benefits

The State Bar has been working to partner with organizations to create member benefits for all of our members. Currently we have two new programs that we would like members to know about. Member benefits can be located on the State Bar website at www.wvbar.org under “For Attorneys” > “Member Benefits” on the drop down menu.

ABA Retirement Fund

ALPS Attorney Matching

Advocacy by Non-Lawyers before WV Administrative Proceedings

State Bar Annual Meeting 2016

The West Virginia State Bar 2016 Annual Meeting will be held at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.  Six hours of continuing legal education will be offered onMonday, April 4, for a total cost of $75.  Discounted room rates will be available for two days before and after the meeting. Agenda topics are being finalized.  Presenters will include members of our federal judiciary and nationally renowned speakers.  A buffet dinner will be held on Sunday, April 3 at 7PM.. All are invited to attend the dinner where 2016 Fifty Year Bar Members, Past Presidents of the State Bar and award winners for both the State Bar and Legal Aid of West Virginia will be recognized.  The cost for the dinner will be $130/person. Registration for both events will be at a cost of $195/person. Keep watching the Bar Blast for updates on the Annual Meeting.

Registration Now Open!

Annual Professional Limited Liability (PLLC) Organization Renewals 

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. COPIES OF CURRENT CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE ARE REQUIRED. Every PLLC must also register an email address.

If your organization renewed online previously click here to login.  PLLC Annual Renewals were due by July 1, 2015.  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 ormellacem@wvbar.org.

By order entered July 27, 2015, the Court approved amendments to Rule 15A.04 of the West Virginia Trial Court Rules with regard to participation in the Unified Electronic Filing System Pilot Project.

Click here for the order

The Court entered an order seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the West Virginia Code of Judicial Conduct. The order is available on the Recent Rules Orders page of the Court’s website using this link.

The public comment period ends September 8, 2015. All comments must be in writing and filed with the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office.

On July 13, 2015, the Court entered an order requesting public comment on proposed revisions to the Rules of Appellate Procedure that will likely be of interest to your organizations. Among other changes, the proposed revisions are intended to provide guidance to counsel in criminal appeals, habeas corpus appeals, or abuse and neglect appeals when counsel lacks a good faith belief that an appeal is warranted, and the client demands that an appeal be advanced. The order is available atthis link. The deadline for public comments is September 11, 2015. All comments must be in writing and filed with the Clerk.

The Lawyer Disciplinary Board is soliciting public comments on the following Legal Ethics Opinions:

L.E.O. 2015-01: Use of Stand-In Counsel
Deadline for submissions: September 14, 2015. Please submit your written comments to the following address: Stand-In Counsel Committee, c/o Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304.

L.E.O. 2015-02: Social Media and Attorneys
Deadline for submissions: September 14, 2015. Please submit your written comments to the following address: Social Media
Committee, c/o Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304.

L.E.O. 2015: The Amended Rules of Professional Conduct and the Effect on L.E.I. 98-02
Deadline for submissions: September 14 2015. Please submit your written comments to the following address: L.E.O. Committee, c/o Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304.

On July 22, 2015, the Court approved a sixty-day period for public comment on the proposed amendments to the West Virginia Rules of Juvenile Procedure. The proposed amendments to the Rules reflect the reorganization of Chapter 49 of the Code and incorporate statutory reforms to the juvenile justice system. Comments may be filed, in writing, with the Clerk of the Court on or before September 22, 2015.

Click here for the order

August 13-15, 2015

West Virginia Bar Association Annual Meeting

Host: The West Virginia Bar Association

Location: Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Farmington, PA

September 5, 2015

Avoiding Ethical Dilemmas & Challenges 2015

Host: WVCLE

Location: WVU College of Law – Morgantown, WV

September 11, 2015

Lunch and Laughs With a Legal Legend

Charity Roast of WVU President E. Gordon Gee

Host: WV Bar Foundation

Location: Erickson Alumni Center-Morgantown, WV

September 24-26, 2015

Appalachian Addiction and Prescription Drug Abuse Conference

Host: The West Virginia State Medical Association and CAMC Health Education and Research Institute

CLE: 16.1 Live Credits in Substance Abuse

Location: Embassy Suites – Charleston, WV

Click Here for the Registration Form

September 25-26, 2015

WVCLE Solo and Small Firm Law Conference (WVU v. Maryland)

Host: West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (WVCLE)

Location: WVU College of Law – Morgantown, WV

CLE: We will apply for MCLE credit in WV, PA, VA, KY, and OH.

More Information: CLICK HERE

WV State Bar Regional Meetings 

October 13-29, 2015: The West Virginia State Bar will hold nine Regional Meetings  this fall. These meetings will provide 3.0 Continuing Legal Education credits in the areas of ethics, office management, substance abuse, and/or elimination of bias. The seminars have only been approved for CLE credit in West Virginia. Lunch will be included at each meeting. Each Regional Meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will last until, approximately, 1:30 p.m. The cost is $100 per person. One of The State Bar’s Officers will attend each meeting.

Dates and Locations:

October 13 – Tamarack – Beckley 

October 14 – Clarion Inn – Shepherdstown

October 15 – South Branch Inn – Moorefield

October 20 – University of Charleston – Charleston

October 21 – The Blennerhassett – Parkersburg

October 22 – Guyan Country Club – Huntington

 October 27 – Oliverio’s – Bridgeport

October 28 – Waterfront Place Hotel – Morgantown

October 29 – Oglebay Resort – Wheeling

 Click date or location above to register online. 

October 20, 2015

66th Annual Meeting of the West Virginia Tax Institute 

Host: The West Virginia Tax Institute, The West Virginia Bar Association, The West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accounts, The College of Law, the College of Business and Economics and West Virginia University

Location: The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels, West Virginia