October 10, 2023

"Tuesday Legal Connect"

West Virginians Need Legal Information that YOU can provide!

The State Bar needs volunteer attorneys each Tuesday evening in October, to field legal questions from the public and provide legal information ONLY as part of the "Tuesday Legal Connect" program.

Volunteers from anywhere in the state can take calls remotely from their home, office, etc. All you need is a telephone and a computer/laptop/tablet.

For those in and around the Clarksburg area, there will be an “in person” option on October 17^th and 24^th. You are welcome to come to the Clarksburg Legal Aid office, have dinner at 5:30, and then take calls from 6-8.

Volunteers will receive 1 free pro-bono CLE credit for each two-hour shift completed. 

If you would be interested in helping in October, please email Barbara Layner as soon as possible at blayner@lawv.net

Request for Public Comment on Proposed Amendments

to Rule 4.2(c) of the

Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law.

Public comments are sought on proposed amendments to Rule 4.2(c) of the Rules for Admission to the Practice of Law. The proposed amendments modify the requirements of an attorney licensed in another jurisdiction to demonstrate good moral character, and the proposed amendments update a reference to the Rules of Professional Conduct. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of Court through File & ServeXpress no later than October 30, 2023. All comments must be filed in writing with the Clerk of the Court through File & ServeXpress no later than October 30, 2023.



Click Here to Review the Order

TOYS FOR TOTS 2023

The West Virginia State Bar's Veteran and Military Affairs Committee is participating in the Marine Corp Reserve's Toys for Tots Program again this year. Boxes will be dropped off in mid-November. Box pick up will be in early to mid-December. If you are interested in volunteering to help by hosting a box, collecting, and/or sorting toys, please contact Anita Casey at caseya@wvbar.org. More information will be provided when available.  

CLE Reporting Tip

The current CLE reporting period runs from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2024. If you have already completed CLE for this reporting period you should report it NOW. Reporting CLE as you complete it will help you track whether or not you are in compliance for the reporting period, how many remaining credits you need to complete, and whether or not you have maxed out your 6 available carryover credits. Submitting an application for approval of a course is also easier if you do it as soon as you complete a course because you will more readily have the necessary application materials (detailed timed agenda; speaker bios and written course materials) on hand.  

October 13, 2023 - Lunch & Learn

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Host: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Court Improvement Program

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.

CLE: 1 credit 

Platform: WebEx  

Cost: No cost

An overview, for attorneys practicing in child abuse and neglect and juvenile court proceedings, of the Americans with Disabilities Act with a specific focus on Title II which governs child protection agencies. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how to use the ADA in cases involving children with disabilities (including mental and behavioral health diagnoses). The session will provide tools and tips for identifying children with disabilities, as well as strategies for ensuring children are provided, and able to access, the services and supports to which they are legally entitled. 

Click Here to Register

Contact Kandi Greter (kandi.greter@courtswv.gov) with any questions. 

October 18, 2023

KANAWHA COUNTY E-File Implementation Meeting

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is pleased to announce that Kanawha County will become active in the WV E-File / CourtPLUS system on April 1, 2024. Electronic filing in an Active County is mandatory per Trial Court Rule 15A. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will be hosting an informational meeting reviewing implementation via Microsoft TEAMS on October 18, 2023, at 12:00 p.m., and members may attend virtually or via telephone using the following TEAMS link:

Kanawha County E-Filing TEAMS LINK

Click Here for Kanawha County Chief Judge Notice of Meeting 

Attorneys and staff are invited to view the recorded training seminar via the link below. Attorneys will be granted 1 CLE credit, including 1.0 Ethics/Office Management credit upon completion of the online course. Please Note: Training sessions completed via the recorded seminar are Online/Audio Visual (Pre-Recorded) CLE credit only. This training session is not eligible for Live Attendance CLE credit.

Also note, attorneys who have previously completed this online training and reported it for CLE credit cannot obtain additional CLE credit for repeating the training.  

The Online/Audio Visual (Pre-Recorded) WV E-File training session can be found by clicking here.

Save the Date

October 23 - 24, 2023

 West Virginia Tax Institute - 74th Annual Meeting 

Host: WV State Bar, WV Society of Certified Public Accountants, WVU College of Law and WVU College of Business and Economics

CLE: Pending WV approval

Location: Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Morgantown, WV

the West Virginia Tax Institute's goals are to improve the level of tax knowledge and practice and to promote cooperation among attorneys, accountants, and other interested groups.

Click here for program and hotel information, and to REGISTER

Note: The cut-off date for the hotel's group rate of $144 is Friday, September 29,2023

October 27, 2023 - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bridge the Gap Program

Host: West Virginia State Bar Young Lawyer Section

About: Newly admitted members are required to complete a mandatory Bridge-the–Gap Program sponsored by the State Bar within 24 months after admission to the West Virginia State Bar. Any new lawyer admitted to practice between July 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 has thirty-six months after their date of admission to complete the program due to COVID extension accommodations ordered by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. All new lawyers admitted on or after January 1, 2021, have twenty-four months after their date of admission to complete the program per Administrative Rule 6.03(a). 

Location: Bridgeport Conference Center – Bridgeport, West Virginia

Cost: Free

CLE: 7.6 credits, including 6.0 in legal ethics

Only newly admitted attorneys who have not previously completed the Bridge the Gap requirement may attend the live course to satisfy the mandatory Bridge the Gap requirements.

Click Here for Agenda | Click Here to Register

Registration closes October 23, 2023

Room Information: A block of sleeping rooms is being held for the night of October 26 at the Wingate by Wyndham Hotel located at 350 Conference Center Way, Bridgeport, WV 26330. Please note that the attending guest is responsible for booking and paying for their own room.  Use code 102623WVS when booking your room. The State Bar will not book or pay for rooms. The cut-off date for Wingate room reservations has been extended to October 20th. See registration link for more details.

November 16, 2023 - 9:00 a.m. to Noon

Webinar

SO YOU WANNA BE A JUDGE – RUNNING FOR JUDICIAL OFFICE 

Host: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the Judicial Investigation Commission, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, and the West Virginia Ethics Commission

CLE: 3.2 credits in ethics/office management

Location: Live Webinar

Join JIC Counsel Teresa Tarr & Brian Lanham, Secretary of State General Counsel Donald Kersey, & Ethics Commission General Counsel Theresa Kirk to learn the dos and don’ts of running for judicial office in West Virginia.  

Contact Sara E. Thompson at Sara.Thompson@courtswv.gov with questions

Click Here For More Information and Registration Details