WV State Bar

RULES REGARDING REAL ESTATE PRACTICE - The Unlawful Practice of Law Committee is soliciting comments on proposed rules of conduct related to the activities of laypersons and lawyers in the area of real estate practice.  The purposes of the proposed rules are to:  a) assist lawyers in fulfilling their ethical responsibilities,
b) inform and deter lay persons from becoming engaged in activities which may constitute the unlawful practice of law, and c) provide a uniform standard for the evaluation of complaints of the unlawful practice of law in real estate matters.  Comments will be taken by the Committee through midnight, March 31, 2010.  Your comments on the proposed rules should be submitted, in writing, to Anita Casey at 2006 Kanawha Blvd, East, Charleston, WV 25311; by fax at 304-558-2467; or at caseya@wvbar.org. All comments will be reviewed by the Unlawful Practice of Law Committee prior to its next quarterly meeting on April 16, 2010. To view the proposed rules click here. 

ELECTIONS -This year, elections are being held in Districts 1-5 for the Board of Governors and the Young Lawyers Section Executive Committee. The ballots for these elections must be received by the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305, no later than midnight March 22, 2010.

PRESTIGIOUS AWARD - The deadline for the prestigious award that will be presented at the State Bar's Annual Meeting in May at The Greenbrier is approaching. The Young Lawyers Section will award its Young Lawyer of the Year Award. Nominations for the Young Lawyer of the Year Award must be received by March 15, 2010.

IMPORTANT CHANGE IN DELIVERY OF MCLE TRANSCRIPTS TO MEMBERS:  The West Virginia Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission will begin providing the MCLE transcripts for the July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2010 reporting period, and future reporting periods via e-mail.  To facilitate this process, please add the following e-mail address for the MCLE Coordinator to your "Allowed Senders" listing: greshamh@wvbar.org.  This will help avoid anti-spam related bounces.  This new process will enable the Commission to deliver individual transcripts to all active members with an e-mail on file with the West Virginia State Bar.  This initiative will help the Bar "Go Green," reduce staff time, as well as the costs for printing, copying, and postage.   If you are an active member and do not have an e-mail address on file with the State Bar, your MCLE transcript will be mailed to you.

GETTING READY FOR 2010-11 - State Bar President-Elect, Letitia Neese Chafin, is already working hard to prepare for her upcoming role as State Bar President.  As a part of her preparation, she is seeking input from State Bar members on the need to establishment new practice Committees, eliminate inactive Committees and re-constitute existing Committees.  If you feel the State Bar has a need for a new Committee, and you are interested in chairing that Committee, please contact President-Elect Chafin at tishchafin@yahoo.com.  Likewise, if you believe an existing Committee has been underutilized and either needs to be abandoned or rejuvenated, let her know.  Finally, if you are interested in chairing, or continuing to chair, an existing/active practice Committee, please advise her of your interest.  Once the 2010-11 Committees have been established, all old Committee rosters will be vacated and new Committee chairs will serve as conduits to repopulate those Committees with individuals who wish to take an active role in developing the work of those Committees.  

FTC TO APPEAL RULING IN 'RED FLAGS' CASE - The Federal Trade Commission will appeal a ruling from October that stripped the agency of its authority to enforce new anti-fraud rules against lawyers.

The FTC's notice of appeal to the D.C. Circuit came in a filing Thursday, February 25, 2010.