February 16, 2021
Free CLE Seminars:
19 seminars for a total of 39 online A/V credits are available if you watch all of the seminars.  Click here to see complete list of available recorded CLE credits
WV STATE BAR OFFICE ACCESS
The Bar Center will remain closed, for all in-person access, until further notice. Bar staff remain available and happy to answer questions and/or assist members of the Bar and public, via telephone or email, during normal operating hours of 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The Bar can be reached by calling 304-553-7220.
News
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.

Nominations for Citizen Soldier, Young Lawyer of the Year, 
and Mentor of the Year must be received 
no later than noon on Monday, March 1, 2021

Citizen Soldier Nominations
The 2021 Citizen Soldier Award will be presented at the 2021 State Bar Annual Meeting. To obtain information regarding the awards process click here.

Young Lawyer of the Year Nominations
The 2021 Young Lawyer of the Year Award will be presented at the 2021 State Bar Annual Meeting. To obtain information regarding the awards process click here.

Mentor of the Year Nominations
The 2021 Mentor of the Year Award will be presented at the 2021 State Bar Annual Meeting. To obtain information regarding the awards process click here.
New Member Benefit
Greenbrier Executive Health is now a State Bar member benefit. In a time of so much uncertainty, your health should not be one of them. Physicians will spend between an hour to an hour and a half face to face with you for the best overall physical. Identify as a State Bar Member and receive a discount. For more information, please email info@greenbrierclinic.com or call 304-536-4870 ext. 271.  

Request for Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to
Rule 2 of the West Virginia Trial Court Rules

By order entered on January 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia approved a 30-day period of public comment on amendments to Rules 2.05 and 2.29 of the West Virginia Trial Court Rules. The Trial Court Rules are being amended to reflect that Mason County is part of the Fifth Circuit. The public comment period closes on March 1, 2021. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of the Court on or before March 1, 2021.
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Notice of Adoption of Standing Order 21-01
The Fourth Circuit has adopted new procedures for filing, service, and management of highly sensitive documents. Comments on the new procedure may still be sent to the Court. All comments must be submitted to the Court on or before March 12, 2021 by writing Patricia S. Connor at 1100 East Main Street, Suite 501, Richmond, Virginia 23219 or via email at rulecomments@ca4.uscourts.gov.
To view the full text of the Notice and the Order click here.
Call for Judges: 2021 National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court
 
The National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition, hosted March 10-13 by WVU Law, is seeking volunteer judges. This year, the competition is being held online. Early round judges must be attorneys of good standing licensed to practice law in any state. Now in its 11th year, the National Energy and Sustainability Moot Court Competition attracts exceptional law students from across the country. A record 40 teams are signed up to compete this year. To volunteer or for questions, please email wvumoot@mail.wvu.edu. For more information on the competition, click here.
BAR ID CARD ONLINE SERVICE 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. We hope to have the system back online soon.
2021 State Bar Membership Directory
See below for pre-order information and forms for the 2021 edition of the West Virginia State Bar 2021 Membership Directory. To pre-order a paper version click here.
Events
FEBRUARY 18 - 19, 2021 Webinar
2021 WVAJ Mid-Winter Seminar LIVE, INTERACTIVE WEBINAR
Host: West Virginia Association for Justice
CLE: 15.90 credits, including 3.9 in ethics and law office management
Time: See Convention Program
Location: Live, Interactive Webinar
Open to all attorneys practicing in West Virginia. The best high-quality, low-cost CLE available, featuring leading state and national attorneys. Special discount available through January 31!
SAVE THE DATE
MARCH 24, 2021 - Webinar
Probate Avoidance, Deed Choices for WV Real Estate, and More!
Host: The WV State Bar Probate Law Committee
CLE: 3 credits
Time: 1:00 pm. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Live, Interactive Webinar
Registration and More Information Coming Soon
APRIL 11-12, 2021
West Virginia State Bar's 2021 Annual Meeting & Seminar 
Location:  The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, WV
  • Reception Sunday, April 11 from 5:30-7:00
  • Awards banquet, Sunday, April 11 at 7:00 ($ 180)
CLE:   6 hours (Monday, April 12, 2021 - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Cost:  $150 - CLE Program

Note: State Bar Members who are employed as Federal/State Public Defenders, Federal/State Court Law Clerks, and with Legal Aid of WV are offered a special discounted rate for the CLE presentation on April 6.  CLICK HERE for more information.  

A block of rooms has been reserved at The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, at $189 per night + resort fees, historic preservation fee, and applicable taxes.  To receive the discounted rate, call The Greenbrier at 855-441-2078 and use Code WVSB2021 when making your reservation.   
APRIL 12, 2021 - Registration Now Open
West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Section 
Bridge the Gap Program
To be held in conjunction with the West Virginia State Bar Annual Meeting

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 Greenbrier Resort – White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Date and Time: April 12, 2021, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free

All attendees to Bridge the Gap are invited to attend the complimentary Attorney and Judicial Welcome Reception on Sunday, April 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Cash Bar). Each attendee is also encouraged to register for and attend other events surrounding the Annual Meeting on Sunday April 11 (Bunker Tours, Brewery and Distillery Tours and the Annual Banquet). Check out this Bar Blast or the Annual Meeting website (http://annualmeeting.wvbar.org/) for more information.


Only Members 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.
Changes to 2021 Schedule for Basic Mediation Training
and Advanced Mediation Training

June 2 and 3, 2021 - Basic Mediation Training - Flatwoods, WV (originally scheduled for March)

July 29, 2021 - Advanced Mediation Training - Bridgeport, WV (originally scheduled for June)

Registration and more information coming soon.
CLE Announcements
Extension of the Bridge the Gap Requirement
Attorneys admitted to the WV State Bar between May 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020 have been granted a one-year extension of time to complete mandatory the Bridge-the-Gap Program.
This extension is in addition to the one-year extension previously granted by the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to those admitted between July 1, 2018, and April 30, 2019. A determination was made that additional attorneys were adversely affected by the cancellation of the Bridge-the-Gap program scheduled in April 2020 due to COVID.