BAR BLAST_2012-05-08

News

The State Bar is asking all of its members to log into their account on the members section of wvbar.org to make sure their contact information and email address are correct. We have a new database with a member portal coming soon and we need to make sure that everyone has the correct information on file for the transition. For more information Click Here.

College Summit West Virginia looking for volunteer writing coaches at their summer workshops to help high school students prepare a personal statement that they will use for college entrance or scholarship applications during their senior year. The only requirements to be a writing coach are to be a supportive mentor and a college graduate.  Many bar members have volunteered in the past and lawyers tend to make great writing coaches.

For more information regarding the workshop dates, locations and how to sign up, contact Jennifer Wood, Community Relations Specialist with College Summit at jwood@collegesummit.org.

Lawyer Disciplinary Board Request for Comments:  Electronic Media Committee

The Lawyer Disciplinary Board has received a request for an opinion concerning the retention and destruction of closed client filed which were kept in electronic format.  The Committee has drafted an L.E.O. to address this issue, and is soliciting public comments thereon.

Click here for a copy of the L.E.O.

 

Please submit  your written comments to the Electronic Media Committee, c/o Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304. Deadline for submissions isJuly 20, 2012.

• The Court has published for comment proposed amendments to  Create Rule 29, Commercial Litigation, WV Trial Court Rules. The Business Court Study Committee was created by the Court for the purpose of evaluating the business court legislation passed as Enrolled Committee Substitute for House Bill No. 4352, including the law’s applicability, practicality, and any other issues the members may discover in the course of their study.  Click here to review the Order.  Comments should be filed in writing with the Clerk of the Court on or before May 11, 2012.

• Also, The Court has published for comment proposed amendments to the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law, as recommended by the Board of Law Examiners.  The proposed amendments would increase the passing score on the MPRE.  They also exclude internet-based law courses from the equivalency policy,  include the policy for use of laptops when taking the exam, set forth the administrative appeal procedure before the Board in certain instances, and amend the conditional admission provisions.  For the complete proposed amendments review the Court’s March 9, 2012 Order by clicking here. The deadline for filing comments is May 21, 2012.

TAX CREDITS FOR ATTORNEYS!

Legal Aid of West Virginia has just received nearly $15,000 of Neighborhood Investment Program Tax Credits that must be distributed before June 30!  Donors may use NIP Tax Credits on: Personal Income Tax, Corporate Net Income Tax, or Business Franchise Tax.  The minimum eligible donation to receive the Tax Credits is $500.00.  In return, LAWV will send you a Tax Credit voucher equal to 50% of your donation.  For example, if you send LAWV $1,000, we’ll send you back $500 in the form of a WV State Tax Credit — it’s that easy!  Donations may be mailed to: Campaign for Legal Aid, 922 Quarrier Street, 4th Floor, Charleston, WV 25301 or visitwww.lawv.net.  NIP Tax Credits are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Please call 304.414.5438 to learn more about making the most of your charitable donation through NIP Tax Credits!

A substantial number of law books from the Supreme Court are being placed at auction on GovDeals.com.  The auction begins May 8 and will be open for eight (8) days. Click Here to see the auction and to bid.  Questions, contact Sherry Fewell at Sherry.L.Fewell@wv.gov.

Upcoming Events

MAY 18 – LEGAL AID OF WEST VIRGINIA

Legal Aid of West Virginia is hosting an ethics presentation, “Ethics Update/ Recent Supreme Court Ethics Opinions,” presented by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel on

Friday, May 18th, 12:00p.m.-1:00 p.m. The ethics qualified 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. Private bar members are welcome, though space is limited. RSVP by 4:00 on May the 16th to Brenda Lambert at 304-343-4481, ext. 2138.

JUNE 8th – NEW HORIZONTAL WELL ACT AND SHALE GAS LAW UPDATE SEMINAR

WVCLE, sponsored by The West Virginia State Bar and the WVU College of Law, will present “The New Horizontal Well Act and Shale Gas Law Update” seminar on June 8, 2012, live at the WVU Medical Center- Charleston Division, Charleston, West Virginia.  Speakers include:  Timothy M. Miller, Kathy G. Beckett, Joseph Lee Jenkins, P. Robert Pichardo, Jeffrey J. Rokisky, George A. Patterson, Andrew S. Graham and Rachael L. Fletcher Cipoletti.  This seminar is accredited for 7.5 WV MCLE credits, including 1.2 Ethics credits.  It is also accredited for 7.5 RL/RPL credits and 7.5 CPL recertification credits through AAPL.  Additionally, we have applied for MCLE credit in OH, PA, KY, and VA.  The seminar begins at 9:00 a.m. on Friday morning and adjourns at 5:00 p.m.  If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please Click Here or dial (304) 293-7255.

MEDIATION TRAINING SESSIONS

On June 12 and 13, 2012, The West Virginia State Bar’s ADR Committee will present its annual Basic Mediation Training Sessions.  The sessions will be held at the Days Hotel in Flatwoods. The sessions provide 15.30 hours CLE credit with 1.0 hour in ethics. Registration deadline is June 6.

Click here to register for the Basic Mediation Training Sessions.

Click here for the Basic Mediation Training Sessions Agenda.

 

An  Advanced Mediation Training Session will be held on July 11, 2012, also at the Days Hotel in Flatwoods. This session will offer 7  hours CLE credit.

Click here to register for the Advanced Mediation Training Session.

Click here to for the Advanced Mediation Training Session Agenda.

 

The State Bar has made arrangements with The Days Hotel for discounted rooms for those attending the training sessions. Contact should be made directly with the hotel at 866-700-7284.  Advise the hotel you will be attending one of the training sessions to obtain The State Bar discount of $89.10 for a single or double room. If you have questions concerning the discounted rooms, contact Kathy Henning at

COURT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Registration is now open for the 2012 Court Improvement Program cross-training conferences.  There is no fee for the conferences, which will take place July 23-24 at the Charleston Marriott and July 26-27,2012, at Lakeview Resort in Morgantown.  To view the brochure and register, click here.