September 28, 2021
News
TOYS FOR TOTS
 
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. If you are interested in volunteering to help by hosting a drop box, collecting, and/or sorting toys, please contact Anita Casey at caseya@wvbar.org. Collections will be done during the month of November. Sorting and distribution will be done the first of December.
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
 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
 Effective Legal Representation in Abuse and Neglect Proceedings
September 30, 2021 (5:30 p.m. to 7:20 p.m.)
Location: WVU College of Law
Cost: No
Host: Supreme Court of Appeals - Division of Children and Juvenile Services
Speaker: The Honorable James Courrier, 21st Judicial Circuit
CLE: 2.2 credits
The topic of the CLE is the effective legal representation throughout the abuse and neglect process. Masks are required. A light snack will be provided. To register, contact Kandi Greter at kandi.greter@courtswv.gov. Please note that registration is limited.
Annual Family Law CLE
October 18, 2021 ( 8:30 a.m to 5:00 p.m.)
Host:  Kanawha County Family Law Bench-Bar Committee
Location:   Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, Charleston, WV
CLE: 8.5 credits including 1.5 credits in law office management

 Pro Bono Attorney Domestic Violence Protective Order Training
October 26, 2021- 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. (Kanawha/Putnam)
October 28, 2021 - 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (Monongalia/Preston)
 
Cost: Free. Legal Aid of West Virginia asks that attendees join the LAWV Pro Bono Domestic Violence Project Team and take at least one pro bono DVPO hearing case within 12 months of the training. 
CLE: 10/26/21 session - 1.2 credits      10/28/21 session – pending WV State Bar approval
Course Description: During this training, you will learn how to help underserved victims of domestic violence obtain civil protection orders. You will learn about these kinds of cases from start to finish. You will also learn more about the underlying dynamics of domestic violence. This training will you give you the knowledge and resources needed to help a victim of domestic violence in a time-limited way. These cases are also a wonderful way for new attorneys to gain experience representing clients in court. The trainings are being conducted in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Pro Bono Celebration Week.
Location: Virtual
Sign-up:
For the 10/26/21 session, please email David Frercks at: dfrercks@lawv.net
For the 10/28/21 session, please email Maria Borror at: mborror@lawv.net
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.