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Bar Blast – February 2, 2016
February 2, 2016
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News

Board of Governors and Young Lawyers Elections
Nominating petitions for Districts 1,2,3,4 and 5 were sent out to all active members on January 13, 2016. Nominating Petitions must be received, by mail, email or fax no later than midnight
February 10, 2016, by the Executive Director of The West Virginia State Bar.

We Need Your Help
The West Virginia State Bar’s Lawyer Assistance Program Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Todd Mount, of Shaffer and Shaffer in Madison, has agreed to serve as the Program’s Volunteer Coordinator.  The Volunteer Coordinator will serve as a liaison between the Board and the LAP Director to locate and coordinate work needed to grow the Program’s capacity of meeting its mission of assisting lawyers who develop physical or mental infirmity, substance abuse or other problems that interfere with a lawyer’s provision of services.  If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, please contact either Todd Mount (tmount@shafferlaw.net) or Anita Casey (caseya@wvbar.org) to advise of your interest in assisting.  Thank you for helping the State Bar and the members of the Board serve attorneys in need in West Virginia. 

Video Conferencing Now Available Free to 
All State Bar Members
The West Virginia State Bar now has video conferencing capability.  The conferences can be initiated statewide and require only an electronic device (PC, Mac, Android or IOS) with a camera.  Those without this capacity can still participate in the conference via phone.  Committee chairpersons may set up a conference from their office location if they do not wish to use the State Bar Center for the meeting.  Individual attorneys may also use the service, free of charge, by scheduling their conference date and time at least 10 days in advance, and obtaining initial training, from State Bar IT Director, Mike Mellace. The State Bar Center offers a fully integrated video conferencing room that will allow up to 25 people in office and 50 out of office to attend the same meeting.
Group training sessions will be available on:
  • February 3 at 2:00 p.m.
  • February 4 at 4:00 p.m.
Please advise Mike Mellace at mellacem@wvbar.org of your interest in participating in one of these sessions or contact him to schedule an individual training session.

9th Judicial Circuit Vacancy
The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is currently receiving applications to fill the judicial vacancy on the 9th Judicial Circuit serving Mercer County.    Candidates must submit completed applications by no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 18, 2016.  The deadline for submittal of letters of recommendation or comment is March 1, 2016.  Applications and instructions are available at www.governor.wv.gov.  For more information about the application process, please call Manda Bickoff at 304-558-2000.  Interviews will be held in Charleston on March 7, 2016.

IRS Issues New Rules Regarding Representation
To review the new rules click this link:

Corrections to Rules of Professional Conduct and Lawyer Disciplinary Procedure 
The West Virginia State Bar and the Office of Disciplinary Council want to notify attorneys that certain sections of Michie’s West Virginia Code Annotated, State Court Rules 2016 are incomplete or out of date. Links to the correct sections are as followed:

The 2016 Annual Conference and Meeting of the West Virginia State Bar
The West Virginia State Bar’s Annual Conference and Meeting is the ideal venue to reconnect with lawyers and friends – and to build new relationships – all while enjoying the amenities of West Virginia’s premier resort, the Greenbrier. Take advantage of excellent Greenbrier accommodation rates offered only to our members* and obtain CLE credits at presentations by our Judiciary and nationally recognized presenters. Upon arrival, all are encouraged to attend the State Bar Annual Dinner on Sunday, April 3rd, where 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. On Monday, April 4th, attend the CLE program consisting of 6 hours of presentations (including 3 credits in elimination of bias and office management) that promise to be informative and helpful to your practice. Attendance at the Dinner on Sunday, April 3, and the CLE program on Monday, April 4, is only $195.00. For those who can only attend the seminar on April 4, the cost is $75.00. For those who can only attend the dinner on April 3, the cost is $130.00.
The CLE seminar has been approved in WV for 6 credits including 3 office management and elimination of bias credits.
*The special discounted room rates will be available for the two days following the meeting. Click here for The Greenbrier hotel reservation form

Fax Number Eliminated
Due to very limited use, to save unnecessary costs, and changes in technology the State Bar has eliminated its primary fax number.  If you would like to send a fax to an individual staff member, contact that individual. Should you have any questions on how to send scanned documents or electronic faxes, Contact State Bar IT Director, Mike Mellace at mellacem@wvbar.org.
Upcoming Events

February 5-6, 2016
WVCLE 36th Annual Litigation Seminar  
Host: WVCLE
Location: Canaan Valley Resort in Davis, WV
If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

March 10, 2016
WVCLE Family Law Seminar
Host: WVCLE
Location: West Virginia University Medical Center – Charleston Division in Charleston, WV
If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

March 24, 2016 – Save the Date!
New Developments in the Shale Gas Play Seminar 
Host: WVCLE
Location: West Virginia University Medical Center – Charleston Division in Charleston, WV
If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

April 21, 2016 – Save the Date!
WVCLE Employment Law Seminar 
Host: WVCLE
Location: West Virginia University Medical Center – Charleston Division in Charleston, WV
If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

June 21-22, 2016 
Basic Mediation Training
Host: WV State Bar ADR Committee
Location: Days Hotel – Flatwoods, WV
More information and registration coming soon!

July 20, 2016 
Advanced Mediation Training – Advocacy in Mediation
Host: WV State Bar ADR Committee
Location: Bridgeport Conference Center – Bridgeport, WV
More information and registration coming soon!

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