September 14, 2021
News
NOTICE OF VACANCIES FOR APPOINTMENT TO
THE WEST VIRGINIA INTERMEDIATE COURT OF APPEALS
AND APPLICATION PROCESS

In accordance with WV Code §51-11-3(b), the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals is established and must be operable on or before July 1, 2022.

This notice is issued pursuant to WV Code §51-11-6(b)(1)(A) to provide instructions on applying for appointment by the Governor to the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission will receive applications immediately for the vacancies on the Intermediate Court of Appeals. The application deadline is October 11, 2021.  


UPCOMING BAR EVENTS – COVID ANNOUNCEMENT
The State Bar is monitoring, on a daily basis, National, State and local health and safety updates regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bar wants to keep all members, staff, visitors, and others safe.  Participants at upcoming Bar events, including but not limited to the Board of Governors’ meeting and Regional meetings, may be asked to wear masks, social distance, and comply with any State or local health department mandates/protocols. As events draw near, the Bar will advise you, via the Bar Blast, of any mandates/protocols on scheduled gatherings.  
Events
Basic End of Life Planning: Powers of Attorney,
Living Wills, and Simple Wills
 September 15, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
 
Cost: Free. Legal Aid of WV asks that attendees take a pro bono wills case within 12 months of the training.
CLE: 2.4 credits 
Course Description: This two-hour seminar will provide basic training on end-of-life planning, including a discussion and explanation of powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney, living wills, and simple wills. The presenters will also review current law, the Five Wishes advance directives, special needs trusts, and the transfer on death deed.
Location: Virtual or In-person: Virtual will be via GoToWebinar. In-person attendance offered at Charleston Legal Aid office for a maximum of 6 (six) attendees
Sign-up: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9022753362731530768  When registering, note in the “Questions and Comments” box if you are planning to attend the in-person training.
Forensic Psychology/Psychiatry Issues
In Civil and Criminal Law
September 22, 2021 (9:00 a.m to Noon)

Location:  In-person or live Webinar
Cost: Free
Host: State Bar
Speakers: David A, Clayman, Ph.D., Steven G. Cody, Ph.D., and Nathaniel Stephenson, Psy.D.
CLE: 3 credits

 Two-part CLE series on Transgender Kids
The Court Improvement Program
Division of Children and Juvenile Services
 
Part I: Closed
 
Part II: The Unique Needs of Transgender Kids in Care will be held on September 28, 2021 from 12:00 PM to 12:50 PM and topics will include Family Conflict, Truancy, Placement Decisions, and Meeting the Mental Health and Physical Health Needs of Transgender Kids.
 
Location: WebEx - Webinar
CLE: 1 credit per session
Speaker: Dr. Molly Fechter-Leggett, WVU Medicine.
Cost: None
 
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.