February 20, 2024

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY 

WEST VIRGINIA STATE BAR

APPLICATION DEADLINE - February 29, 2024 - 5:00 p.m.

COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR 

The Compliance Coordinator reports to the State Bar's Executive Director for matters related to member registration/reporting requirements and serves as the staff liaison to the State Bar's Mandatory Legal Education Commission for matters related to continuing legal education requirements. With the MCLE Commission, duties include scheduling meetings, preparing documents, reporting to and serving as the Secretary at Commission meetings; insuring compliance with member registration requirements; and tracking, monitoring and insuring compliance with mandatory continuing legal education, financial responsibility disclosure and IOLTA reporting requirements.

Job Duties for membership include maintaining new attorney admission information; entering information regarding deaths, suspensions, annulments or other membership changes; coordinate printing and communication of notices of requirement of fee payment and reporting of FRD and IOLTA information.

Job Duties for MCLE include handling inquiries regarding approval of education courses, hours and requirements; working with IT staff to coordinate tracking of accredited course information and member compliance status; working with Executive Director and others to plan State Bar sponsored legal education seminars. The Coordinator tracks notifies members who do not comply with CLE or membership requirements and assists with the filing of the Petition for Suspension for Noncompliance with the Supreme Court of Appeals.

The coordinator is expected to assist with member inquiries, office operations, and any other tasks that may be assigned.

Requirements:  Applicant must be proficient in the Microsoft suite of Office applications, Adobe Acrobat, and familiar with website editing and content management; must have experience working in document management systems and working with databases; must be able to prioritize while working under tight time constraints; have strong organizational skills, the ability to multi-task, attention to detail and ability to work independently. Must present themselves professionally and have customer service experience. Bachelor's degree is required. Strong preference for applicants with law degree. 

To apply for this position send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to pickensmj@wvbar.org 5:00p.m. February 29, 2024.                                            

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. 

Amendments to the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure -Adopted

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2025

On January 31, 2024, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia adopted amendments to the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure to take effect on January 1, 2025.

Click Here to review the order adopting the amendments

Request for Public Comment on Proposed

Legal Ethics Opinion - 24-01

The Artificial Intelligence Committee of the Office of Lawyer Disciplinary Counsel is seeking public comment on a proposed legal ethics opinion on the use of Artificial Intelligence ("AI").

All comments must be filed in writing with the Artificial Intelligence Committee, c/o Office of Lawyer Disciplinary Counsel, 4700 MacCorkle Avenue SE, Suite 1200, Charleston, WV 25304.

Click Here to View the Draft Legal Ethics Opinion

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

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 has been extended to February 16, 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.

The West Virginia Bar Association’s

Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

March 5, 2024

Host: The West Virginia Bar Association

CLE: 1 hour of online/audio visual credit

Date/Time: March 5, 2024 from Noon - 1 p.m.

Platform: Virtual (Zoom)

Event Highlights: Join us for our second virtual CLE Lunch & Learn of the year as Ashley Hardesty Odell, Esq. of Bowles Rice LLP discusses 'pressure points' in this highly relatable ethics presentation.

Speaker: Ashley Hardesty Odell, Esq. of Bowles Rice LLP

Click Here to Register

Save the Date

March 27, 2024

Labor and Employment

Host: WV State Bar Labor and Employment Law Committee

CLE: Credits Pending

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

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

Cost: Free

Registration opens soon

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.

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.

Bridge the Gap Program

April 8, 2024 - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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: Embassy Suites, Charleston, West Virginia

Cost: Free

Registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on February 13, 2024.

Click Here to Register

Registration Closes on March 28, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

Hotel: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites, Charleston. Click here for the room reservation link. 

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.