June 1, 2021

‌

THE BAR IS REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN IDENTIFYING DECEASED BAR MEMBERS.
 
The State Bar is currently attempting to obtain missing information on attorneys who passed away prior to 2008. It has come to the Bar's attention that records for deceased attorneys may not have been properly maintained by the State Bar at that time. If you know of a Bar member who died prior to 2008, please email as much of the following information that you have to heidenreichm@wvbar.org and schoolcraftp@wvbar.org. The member’s full name, date of admission, date of death, last known city of practice, and copy of the obituary.
 
________________________________________________________

UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION
The State Bar will be mailing an orange postcard reminder regarding membership reporting and fees in June for the July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022 fiscal year. If your contact information has changed please log into the membership portal and update it by June 1. (per Bylaw 2.02 (b))
Information that you will need to check and update includes:
  1. Name of Employer (If sole practitioner, enter the sole practitioner’s name)
  2. Address of record
  3. Telephone and Fax Numbers
  4. Email Address
_________________________________________________________

 
BAR ID CARD TEMPORARY
IN-PERSON PROCEDURE -
ONLINE SERVICE CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE  
The WV DMV is currently unable to process requests for Bar ID cards due to an upgrade of their system. The online system has been taken offline and will be offline until further notice. The State Bar and DOT/DMV has developed a temporary solution. Until the online service can be reestablished, please follow the following steps to obtain your Bar ID card:

Attorney - To request a State Bar Photo ID Card from the DMV
  1. Login to  www.mywvbar.org/bar-id-card;
  2. Click on the “View and Print your Membership Record” link;
  3. Print the “attorney profile” page;
  4. Call the DMV Driver’s Help Desk at 304-926-2508. The DMV Help Desk will assign a photo card number;
  5. The DMV Help Desk will communicate the assigned “photo card number” to you (You will need this number when visiting a DMV Regional Office. Note: Your photo card number is not the same as your State Bar number);
  6. The Help Desk will guide you to the closest DMV Regional Office to have your photo taken for your Bar Photo ID Card;
  7. Take the print out referenced above "attorney profile" and your driver’s license with you to a DMV Regional Office.
**The attorney will visit a Regional Office after speaking with the DMV Help Desk and receiving a photo card number. The DMV will charge $25 fee per card.**
 
State Bar Photo ID Cards will not be given out the same day. Once your photo is taken and the registration process is completed at the DMV you will receive your card in the mail within 10-14 business days.

 
State Bar staff continues to work with DOT and DMV to get the Bar ID card issue corrected. Continue to watching the Bar Blast for updated information.
News
Young Lawyer Section - Election Results
for African American and District 12 Representatives
The State Bar is pleased to announce the results of the special election to fill vacancies for the African American and District 12 representatives of the Young Lawyers Section:
Nicholas E. Gordon - Charleston, WV - African American Representative
Bryan D. Church - Sutton, WV - District 12 Representative
Request for Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to 
Rule 7.0(c) of the Rules of Admission to the
Practice of Law in West Virginia
By order entered on May 17, 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia approved a 30-day period of public comment on amendments to Rule 7.0(c) of the Rules of Admission to the Practice of Law in West Virginia. The attorney oath is being amended to included a civility pledge. The Court provisionally approved the amendment to Rule 7.0 of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law in West Virginia and is publishing the amendment for comment.  All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of the Court on or before June 16, 2021.
KELLER NOTICE TO STATE BAR MEMBERS
The time schedule to follow on Keller issues is available on the State Bar’s website or  Click here for Keller Notice . If any member has questions concerning this matter, please contact Anita Casey at The West Virginia State Bar at 304-553-7228 or by email at casey@wvbar.org.  
Challenges should be directed to Executive Director Anita Casey and may be submitted by mail: 2000 Dietrick Blvd., Charleston, WV 25311 or email: casey@wvbar.org
Events
2021 BASIC MEDIATION TRAINING
JUNE 2 and 3, 2021
Host: State Bar ADR Committee
CLE: 16.5 credits including 1 Ethics
Cost: $150
Location: Flatwoods Days Inn and Suites and Flatwoods Conference Center, 350 Days Drive, Sutton, WV

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Flatwoods Days Inn & Suites at the discounted rate of $99.00 plus and taxes and fees for June 1 and 2. To receive the discounted rate, inform the hotel that you are attending the WV State Bar's event when making your reservation. The reservation contact number is 304-765-5055.  

Information on the Advanced Mediation Training, scheduled for July 29, 2021, coming soon
22nd Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner
2020 Fellows Class and 2021 Fellows Class
June 24, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
 
Host:   WV Bar Foundation
Location: 4 Points Sheraton Hotel, Charleston
Cost: $150 per person or $2,000 reserved table for ten.
Please contact Tom Tinder to make your reservations - 304-343-9823, tom@wvbarfoundation.org or WV Bar Foundation, P.O. Box 4845, Charleston, WV 25364.

Save the Date for a live Bridge the Gap Program
July 23, 2021
Rescheduled from our Spring event
 
Host: West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyer Section Bridge the Gap Program
About: Each new lawyer admitted to practice after July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2020 will have thirty-six months after their date of admission to complete the program. All new lawyers admitted on or after January 1, 2021 will have twenty-four months after their date of admission to complete the program.
Location: The Summit Bechtel Reserve – Glen Jean, West Virginia
Date and Time: July 23, 2021, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

The Summit Bechtel has rooms available for the night of July 22. The cut-off date for reservations is June 30. Reservations may be made by contacting Curtis George at Curtis.george@scouting.org. Please reference BTG2021 when making your reservation. Room rates are $125 for a king or queen room or $140 for a room with two queen beds and a sofa.  *

Only attorneys admitted after July 1, 2018 OR attorneys admitted prior to July 1, 2018, who have not previously completed the Bridge the Gap requirements, may attend the live course and satisfy the mandatory Bridge the Gap requirements.

Registration will be open on the West Virginia State Bar website beginning June 18, 2021. Additional information will be provided by June 18 on outdoor recreational activities available (i.e. ziplining, fishing, etc.) to those attending the program and their guest.
CLE Announcements
Temporary Waiver of Online and In-house
Continuing Legal Education Credit Limit

Due to ongoing concerns associated with the COVID-19 virus, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has granted a request from the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission for a temporary waiver of current CLE rules and regulations which limit the CLE credits for online and in-house credits to 12 credits, or half of the mandatory continuing legal education requirements FOR THE 2020-2022 reporting period.
Extension of the Bridge the Gap Requirement
Attorneys admitted to the WV State Bar between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 have been granted a one-year extension of time to complete the mandatory Bridge-the-Gap Program.
The extension was based on a determination by the Court that attorneys within that time frame were adversely affected by the cancellation of the Bridge-the-Gap program scheduled in April 2020 due to COVID.
The West Virginia State Bar
www.wvbar.org
*You are receiving this email because you have elected to receive the Bar-Blast from the WV State Bar. To change you email address or manage your email subscriptions, you must log into the Membership Portal at mywvbar.org. This mailing list is updated weekly.