BAR BLAST – June 2, 2015

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 and 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 are 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.

The West Virginia State Bar has been working in collaboration with the Department of Motor Vehicles and West Virginia Interactive to develop a database application which will allow State Bar members to obtain a photo ID without leaving the comfort of their office.  The State Bar hopes the new database application will be available later this summer.  The State Bar will advise you of the launch date of the application as soon as it can be confirmed.

College Summit Seeking Volunteer Writing Coaches

College Summit West Virginia is a nonprofit that operates in low-income areas to raise the college-going rate among high school students. College Summit works to empower students, supporting them in the college application process.
College Summit West Virginia is currently looking for individuals to serve as Writing Coaches. Volunteers are given private suites to stay in on the college campus where the workshops take place and are provided meals as well. All training is provided as well to equip the Writing Coach to work with a team of 4-6 students on their personal essay portion of their college application.
College Summit West Virginia workshops this summer will take place on the campus of West Virginia State University. The dates for the workshops are July 16-19 and July 23-26.
Lawyers make especially good Writing Coaches due to the use of the Socratic method in coaching the students through their personal essays.
Interested applicants can click here to apply or contact Nikole Kinder at 304-730-1707 or nkinder@collegesummit.org.

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

Registration Coming Soon.

The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is currently receiving applications to fill the judicial vacancy on the 7th Judicial Circuit serving Logan County. Candidates must submit completed applications by no later than 5:00 p.m. on June 16, 2015. The deadline for submittal of letters of recommendation or comment is June 23, 2015. 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 July 7, 2015.

The amendments to the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Minor Guardianship Proceedings have been approved and become effective on June 12, 2015.

Click here for the order

The Court is requesting public comment on amendments to the Rules of Child Abuse and Neglect Proceedings. The Rules have been updated and amended  to reflect code changes and codes repealed by the WV Legislature . The rules have also been amended to reflect changes in legislation following passage of the federal Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening  Families Act, approved on September 29, 2014. The Court has approved a 60 day comment period to end on July 28, 2015.Please send any comments to the WV Supreme Court Clerks Office.

Click here for the Order

June 10 & 11, 2015

US District Court CM/ECF Training

Host: US District Court – Northern District of West Virginia

Location: 2nd Floor District Judge Courtroom, Martinsburg

CLE: 3 Hours Office Management

The Court is offering a two and one half hour (2 1/2) training course for attorneys and/or their support staff on use of the CM/ECF filing system on the following days:  

June 10th & 11th:  9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 

More Information

June 18, 2015
WVCLE Insurance Law
Host: West Virginia Continuing Legal Education (WVCLE)
Location: WVU Medical Center – Charleston, WV

June 18-19, 2015

Public Defender Services 2015 Annual Conference 

Host: West Virginia Public Defender Services

Location: Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV

July 20-21 & 23-24, 2015

WV Court Improvement Program Cross-Training Conferences 

Host: West Virginia Court Improvement Program

Location: Charleston Marriott – July 20-21,

Bridgeport Conference Center – July 23-24.

April 3-4, 2016

The WV State Bar Annual Meeting 2016 – SAVE THE DATE!

Host: The West Virginia State Bar

Location: The Greenbrier

More details coming soon!