January 23, 2024

IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING THE

WV STATE BAR MEMBERSHIP PORTAL

The West Virginia State Bar membership portal will be unavailable due to required maintenance beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, January 29. It is expected to be available again on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, by 5 p.m. During this time all features of https://mywvbar.org will be unavailable. This will include access to Fastcase through the WV State Bar access portal, Pro Hac Vice filings, MCLE reporting, and access to your state bar membership profile. During this maintenance many updates will be made to the membership portal. Some features may work slightly differently after the update is completed. Any questions can be directed to the IT support email support@wvbar.org, or you may contact Andrew Eden at 304-553-7223. 

The 2022-2024 CLE Reporting period ends on June 30, 2024

• Any CLE that has been completed since July 1, 2022 should be reported NOW!
• All CLE credits must be completed AND reported on your CLE transcript by July 31, 2024 to avoid the $200 late reporting fee
• There is an additional $200 reinstatement fee if you are suspended for CLE non-compliance
• Only half of your required credits can be obtained from pre-recorded, online courses 
• Half of your required credits must be from live attendance courses. Live attendance is either a traditional, in-person classroom setting OR a live, fully interactive webinar where you can interact with the speakers and ask questions. Please note that watching a recorded webinar that requires you to periodically verify you are still watching is NOT live attendance. 

CLICK HERE for additional information regarding FREE online CLE opportunities, confirmation of pending CLE credits and CLE requirements. 

INTEREST RATE ON JUDGMENTS AND DECREES FOR 2024

The Administrative Office of The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia has set the interest rate at 8.00% for judgments and decrees entered during the 2024 calendar year.

Click Here for the Administrative Order of the Supreme Court of Appeals

FULL TIME UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

OPENING IN HUNTINGTON

The Southern District of West Virginia has issued a Public Notice seeking the appointment of a full-time United States Magistrate Judge in Huntington, West Virginia. The duties of the position are demanding and wide-ranging, including: (1) conduct of most preliminary proceedings in criminal cases; (2) trial and disposition of misdemeanor cases; (3) conduct of various pretrial matters and evidentiary proceedings on delegation from a district judge; and (4) trial and disposition of civil cases upon consent of the litigants. The basic authority of a United States magistrate judge is specified in 28 U.S.C. § 636.

Click here to review the Public Notice for additional details about the posting and how to apply. The application deadline is January 31, 2024.

WVU Law Registering Employers for On-Campus Interviews

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Join many of West Virginia’s top private firms and public offices in recruiting talent right here at the College of Law! You can also sign up for our Resume Collection service, to interview candidates at a time and location of your choosing.

To participate, private sector employers must offer paid compensation to summer interns/clerks. While paid employment is always more attractive to students, public sector employers may post volunteer legal intern positions or allow students work for academic credit as part of a recognized externship with the College of Law.

Click Here to Register Your Participation

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact Brad Grimes, Assistant Director of Career Services for the College of Law, at (304) 293-7750 or at https://tgrimes@mail.wvu.edu. 

 6^th Family Court Circuit Vacancy

The Judicial Vacancy Advisory Commission is currently receiving applications to fill the family court vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Jason M. Spears in the 6th Family Court Circuit serving Cabell County. Candidates must submit their completed applications and letters of recommendation or comment no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 2, 2024. For more information about the application process, please call the Office of General Counsel at 304-558-2000. Interviews will be held in Charleston on Thursday, February 8, 2024. 

Click Here for Application and Instructions

WVU College of Law Survey



The State Bar has been asked to share the following message from a group of WVU Law Alumni who are interested in exploring the impact of the General Clinic at the WVU College of Law:

Many of you may not be aware that the West Virginia University College of Law's General Clinic has been non-operational for the 2023-2024 academic year. As a part of WVU's academic restructuring, the College of Law is now evaluating the General Clinic's future.  

Over its 40+ year history, the General Clinic has benefited the lives of thousands of indigent West Virginians through zealous student-attorney legal services. The clinical law program is one of the few avenues at the College wherein students get an education that transcends theory into practice. 

We respectfully ask that any attorney who has participated in, collaborated with, or simply wants to express an opinion of the clinical program, take the following short survey, which our group plans to publish results to the WVU College of Law. 

Click here to access the survey

CLE Reporting Tip

Non-Approved Course Applications and

Written Materials Requirement 

The CLE application for Non-Approved Courses requires at least a sample of the written materials for the course. The application clearly notes that a course must include the distribution of high quality written materials pertaining to the subjects covered. Agendas, course brochures, certificates of completion, session descriptions etc. are NOT high quality written materials pertaining to the subjects covered.  If a course did not include the distribution of actual written materials it should NOT be submitted for CLE credit in WV.

Events

Court Improvement Program - Lunch & Learn

Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Desk Guide

January 26, 2024

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

Time: Noon to 1 p.m.

CLE: 1 credit 

Platform: Live WebEx  

Cost: No cost

The session's purpose is to discuss updates and provide the latest information relating to the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Desk Guide, West Virginia Prudent Parenting Training, and the Child Contact Sheet. A group of provider panelists will discuss each of these documents and share their updates and importance.

Click Here to Register

Contact Kandi Greter, kandi.greter@courtswv.gov or 304-340-2755, with any questions. 

Civil Legal Issues in Reentry

February 20, 2024

Host: WV State Bar Multicultural Lawyers Committee

CLE: 3 Credits

Location: In-person at the State Bar Center, Large Lower Level Conference Room, Charleston and via live video conference.

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Speaker: Marie C. Bechtel, Esq. Supervising Attorney, Beckley Office, Legal Aid of West Virginia

Topics:

• Criminal Record Expungement
• Driver's License Restoration and Child Support Modification
• CPS File Sealing and Post-Dispositional Modification in Child Abuse and Neglect Cases

Click Here for Live In-Person Registration

Click Here for Live Online/Webinar Registration

Facility Details:  Due to limited capacity for live attendance at the State Bar Center, registration is limited to the first 35 registrants. Attendance via webinar is also limited to the first 500 registrants. There is an increased interest in attending webinars, therefore, you are encouraged to register early to secure a link to attend virtually. All attendees, whether in person or virtual, will receive an email confirming registration. If you do not receive a confirmation of registration, you will not be able to participate in the seminar on the day of presentation.  

Note to those attending in person: If you are unable to use the stairs from the first floor to the lower level, please drive down the driveway on the left-side of the Bar Center and enter the building at the bottom of the driveway. Handicap accessible restrooms are available. If you need other assistance, please contact the State Bar 304-553-7220, in advance of the meeting, so arrangements can be made with you.

Women Legal Professional Retreat 

February 29, 2024 - March 3, 2024

Hosts: West Virginia, North Carolina, and Virginia Lawyer Assistance Programs 

Location: The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Roanoke, VA 

CLE: 14.1 credits in ethics/attorney well-being/law office management/elimination of bias

Click Here to REGISTER

A block of rooms have been reserved at The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center at a discounted rate of $122.00/single and $142.00/double (not including taxes, fees and parking). This discount rate is available until February 1, 2024 unless all rooms have sold out. Click Here to make a reservation at the discounted rate or contact the hotel at 540-985-5900. There are also other hotels in and around downtown Roanoke.

West Virginia State Bar 2024 Annual Meeting

April 7 - 8, 2024

Host: West Virginia State Bar

Location: Embassy Suites, Charleston, West Virginia

Cost:

• $75 Banquet only
• $150 CLE Seminar only
• $225 Sunday Banquet and Monday CLE program

CLE: Pending

Sunday, April 7th -  

• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Attorney and Judicial Welcome Reception and sponsor displays.
• 7:30-9:30 p.m. Annual Banquet and sponsor displays

Monday, April 8th -  

• 8:00-9:00 a.m. Registration and sponsor displays
• 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Continuing Legal Education Program (includes a box lunch)

State Bar Members who are employed as Federal/State Public Defenders, Federal/State Court Law Clerks, and/or with Legal Aid of WV are offered a special discounted rate of $75 for the April 8th Seminar.

Registration closes on March 22, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.

Accommodations: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites, Charleston for $149/night for Sunday, April 7, 2024 only.

Room reservations must be made by March 15, 2024.