BAR BLAST_2012-08-06

News

If you have already signed up to submit your FRD, IOLTA and Payment online here and have not received any response pleaseclick here for a document that will show you where to go and submit your information. If you have not received an email with a first time link from support@wvbar.org then you will need to contact Mike Mellace at Mellacem@wvbar.org.

 

Your membership dues for fiscal year 2012-2013, and your Financial Responsibility Disclosure and IOLTA reporting requirements, can now be completed on line. All dues payments and submissions (Paper and online form) must be completed no later than September 1, 2012. 

In addition to a website full of useful court information, the West Virginia Supreme Court also has a Twitter page. The twitter page is used by the Supreme Court to alert followers to important information about West Virginia Courts including press releases, opinion and memorandum decisions, and other important announcements. In the recent statewide emergency, the Twitter page was used to alert followers that courts across the state would be closed on Monday, July 2 and then it was used to announce that courts would be open on Tuesday, July 3. To follow West Virginia court news on Twitter, go to  www.twitter.com/wvcourts. If you already have a twitter account, just click follow. If you don’t have a Twitter account, it will prompt you to create a free account first. For more information on Twitter or if you have any questions, contact Supreme Court Public Information Specialist April Harless at 304-558-0145 or

april.harless@courtswv.gov.

The West Virginia State Bar’s Unlawful Practice of Law Committee has issued an Advisory Opinion addressing the duties and responsibilities of counsel retained or appointed to represent a criminal defendant.  For a full text of Advisory Opinion 2012-001 click here.

The Lawyer Disciplinary Board has received a request for an opinion concerning the “indemnify and hold harmless” language contained in settlement agreements. 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 Settlement Agreement Committee, c/o Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200C, Charleston, WV 25304. Deadline for submissions: October 12, 2012.

COMMENTS REQUESTED ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CIVIL PROCEEDINGS RULES  

The Court is requesting comments on the Proposed Amendments to the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Domestic Violence Civil Proceedings, Rules 4 and 11. The contact person is the Deputy Clerk, Edythe Nash Gaiser, her contact information is as follows:  phone no. 304-558-2601 and email address: Edythe.Nash@courtswv.gov

Upcoming Events

AUGUST 31 & SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 COAL LAW SEMINAR

WVCLE, sponsored by The West Virginia State Bar and the WVU College of Law, will present the “Coal Law” seminar on August 31 & September 1, 2012, at the WVU College of Law in Morgantown, West Virginia.  Speakers include:  Jeffrey K. Phillips, Professor Patrick C. McGinley, Benjamin L. Bailey, Joseph L. Jenkins, Robert G. McLusky, P. Nathan Bowles, Jr., William D. Wilmoth, Paul E. Frampton, and David J. Laurent.  This seminar is accredited for 9.5 WV MCLE credits.  The seminar begins at 10:00 a.m. on Friday morning and adjourns at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning.  The Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa (304-594-1111) has rooms available for Friday night only at a rate of $199 per night, without tax.  Mention “WVCLE” to reserve a room in our block at this rate.  If you would like to register for this seminar or for more information, please CLICK HERE or call (304) 293-7255.

SAVE THE DATE

Court-Approved GAL Training-Trainings for guardians ad litem (GALs) in family court and child abuse/neglect cases will take place onNovember 14, 2012, at the Charleston Marriott and November 16, 2012, at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown.  Sponsored by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the trainings will meet the new guidelines for family court GALs under the Rules of Practice and Procedure for Family Court, as well as the new training requirement for child abuse/neglect GALs/children’s attorneys under W.Va. Code §49-6-2(a).  Registration information will be available this summer.