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Bar Blast – January 26, 2016
January 26, 2016
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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:
  • January 27 at 11:00 a.m. (immediately before the Probate Law Committee Meeting)
  • January 29 at 10:00 a.m.
  • 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.

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

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.

Moot Court Judges Needed
 The National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition, hosted March 3-5 by WVU Law, is looking for volunteer judges. For the early rounds, a judge must be an attorney of good standing licensed to practice law in any state. Final round (March 5 afternoon) judges must be a federal or state appellate judge. Now in its sixth year, the competition attracts exceptional law students from across the country. Interested parties should contact Samantha Stefanov atwvumoot@mail.wvu.edu for more details. Please put “Moot Court Judge” in the subject line. For more information on theNational Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition, visit http://energycomp.law.wvu.edu/.

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 incorrect. Correct links to the incorrect sections are as followed:

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.

2016 Interest Rate
The following Administrative Order was entered by Chief Justice Ketchum regarding the 2016 interest rate to be paid upon judgments and decrees.  As a result, the rate of interest for calendar year 2016 for judgments and decrees for the payment of money entered on or after January 1, 2016, is set at seven percent (7.00%).

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 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 special discounted room rates will be available for the two days following the meeting. Click here for The Greenbrier hotel reservation form

Fax Number To Be Eliminated
Due to very limited use, and to save unnecessary costs, the State Bar has eliminated its fax number. The State Bar will no longer receive fax transmissions.  If you would like to send a fax to a 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.

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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