March 2, 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 State Bar Center will be open for individual/in-person access for members beginning March 1, 2021. Masks will be required. Group meetings will continue to be held via Zoom 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.

West Virginia University College of Law Announcement
New case on the horizon? Research backlogged? Why not consider hiring a part-time employee, summer intern, or recent/upcoming graduate, from the WVU College of Law? The College of Law can help advertise positions, or set up virtual on-campus interviews for its students on your behalf. For more information, contact Rosalind Lister, Interim Assistant Dean for Career Services, in the Meredith Career Services Center at the College of Law by calling (304) 906-7867 or emailing Rosalind.lister@mail.wvu.edu Thank you!
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.  

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.
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
March 3, 2021 Webinar
One Nation: Saving our Democracy Through Bipartisanship
ALPS President & CEO and Board Chair of the Maureen & Mike Mansfield Center, David Bell, is moderating this special Zoom event, One Nation: Saving Our Democracy Through Bipartisanship on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 6 pm MST. Members of the West Virginia State Bar are invited to join Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-New York) as they discuss their efforts to find common ground at a time when hyper-partisanship divides the country and threatens democratic governance.
Host:  University of Montana - Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center
Cost:  Free
Time: 8 PM
Location: Live, Interactive Webinar
March 4, 2021 Webinar
Emerging Legal Issues Affecting the Alcohol Sector in West Virginia
Host:  West Virginia Bar Association
Speaker: Chuck Johnson
CLE: 1 credit
Cost:  Free for Bar Association member and $10.00 for non-members
Time: Beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Location: Live, Zoom Webinar
March 11, 2021 Zoom Webinar
The Tiger King Trial School 

Host:  West Virginia University College of Law
CLE: 3.6 WV MCLE credits, 3.0 PA MCLE hours. Applications to Ohio and Virginia are pending
Cost:  $150.00
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Location: Live, Interactive Webinar
March 18 - 20, 2021 Webinar
West Virginia Public Defender Services
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Defender Services (PDS) will not hold an annual conference this year. Instead, anyone who would normally attend the PDS conference is encouraged to attend the upcoming WE THE DEFENDERS (WTD) national conference being held virtually by the National Association for Public Defense (NAPD) in March.
Host:  West Virginia Public Defender Services
Location:  Live Webinar
CLE: 15 live credits including 3 in ethics and a potential additional 15 including 3 in ethics on-line credits (total 30 credits including 3 in ethics)
Cost:  $50.00
MARCH 24, 2021 - Webinar
Probate Avoidance, Deed Choices for WV Real Estate,
and Appraisement and Inventory
Host: The WV State Bar Probate Law Committee
CLE: 3 CLE credits
Cost: Free Webinar
Time: 1:00 pm. to 4:00 p.m.
Speakers:
  • J. E. White - Probate Avoidance
  • Christopher J. Winton - Deed Choices for WV Real Estate
  • Anna Price - Preparing the Appraisement and Inventory
Location: Live, Interactive Webinar
APRIL 11-12, 2021
West Virginia State Bar's 2021 Annual Meeting & Seminar 
Location:  The Greenbrier Resort, White Sulphur Springs, WV
  • Reception Sunday, April 11 from 5:30-7:00
  • Awards banquet, Sunday, April 11 at 7:00 ($ 180)
CLE Date and Time: Monday, April 12, 2021 - 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
CLE:   6 hours
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.   

Greenbrier Group Bunker Tours
During the State Bar Annual Meeting, you will have the opportunity to participate in one of two private bunker tours. The first tour is on Saturday, April 10 at 2:30 p.m. The second tour is on Sunday, April 11 at 10:30 a.m. Each tour has a maximum capacity of 25 and will cost $40 per person. You must register by April 3. No refunds will be issued unless the State Bar is required to cancel a tour due to insufficient participation.

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.
Save the Date
MAY 6, 2021 - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Pathway to Lawyer Well-Being Webinar
Host: West Virginia Judicial & Lawyer Assistance Program
CLE: 3 CLE credits
Cost: Free Webinar
Speakers/Times:

1:00 to 1:50 - "The Psychology of Transitions" by Robynn E. Moraites, Esq., Executive Director of the North Carolina Lawyer Assistance Program

2:00 to 2:50 - "Transforming Stress" by Colleen Harshbarger, MS, Wellbeing Solutions

3:00 to 3:50 - "Compassion Fatigue in the Legal Profession"  by
  • The Honorable William S. Thompson, Circuit Judge of the 25th Judicial Circuit
  • David Wandling, Esq., Logan County Prosecuting Attorney
  • Rachael Fletcher Cipoletti, Chief Counsel of the WV Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Location: Live, Interactive Webinar
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.