Bar Blast 03-30-2010

 

ELECTION RESULTS -  Congratulations to the new Board of Governors members from Districts 1-5:

 Board of Govenors
District 1    Larry W. Blalock, Wheeling
District 2    David C. White, Moundsville
District 3    Walt Auvil, Parkersburg
District 4     Matthew L. Clark, Point Pleasant
District 5     W. Michael Frazier, Huntington

 

Welcome back to returning Young Lawyer Executive Committee members from District 3, Patrick Lefebure, and District 5, Richard Weston. 

 

 

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.

 

 

PROVISIONAL APPROVAL AND REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO WEST VIRGINIA TRIAL COURT RULES - The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals provisionally approved a proposed amendment to Trial Court Rule 26.08 and is publishing it for comment. Click here for the proposed Rule Amendment.  The comment period concludes on April 12, 2010.

 

 

BAR FOUNDATION FELLOWS - Nineteen individuals will be honored as Bar Foundation Fellows during the 12th Annual Bar Foundation Fellows Dinner on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at the Marriott Hotel in Charleston. Fellows are those lawyers and members of the judiciary whose professional, public and private careers have demonstrated dedication to the welfare of their communities and honorable service to the legal profession. The black tie optional reception and dinner begins at 6:30 PM and the cost is $75 person or $750 for a table of ten persons. Please contact Tom Tinder (304-343-9823 or tom@wvbarfoundation.org) to make reservations.
          The 2010 Bar Foundation Fellows class members are:
           Robert  B. Allen-Charleston
           Richard J. Bolen-Huntington 
           Ellen S. Cappellanti-Charleston
           Anita R. Casey-Charleston
           Stephen B. Farmer-Charleston
           Kenneth D. Gray-Morgantown
           Thomas A. Heywood-Charleston
           The Honorable Gary L. Johnson-Summersville
           William A. Kolibash-Wheeling 
           Timothy J. Manchin-Fairmont  
           Dean Joyce E. McConnell-Morgantown
           Robert W. Minto, Jr.-Missoula, MT
           Dina M. Mohler-Charleston
           Charles S. Piccirillo-Madison 
           William J. Powell-Martinsburg
           Kathy M. Santa Barbara-Martinsburg
           The Honorable Thomas W. Steptoe, Jr.-Charles Town
           William D. Wilmoth-Wheeling
           John D.Wooton-Beckley                      
                                     

 

 

Casemaker's NEW 2.2 release is now here!  Compliments of The West Virginia State Bar, it will have the same look and easy format combined with some new and very useful search functions and expanded content.  These new features are:  an expanded case law database (4th  Circuit to 1879); simultaneous State and Federal search; footnotes are linked within case law; new "Session Laws" book in your library; Section ranges are shown within the General Statutes browse mode; the Code will now be continuously updated throughout the year; "history" lines at the end of each Section will link to passed legislation; and an "Archive" link has been added to link to passed legislation through 2003.  Friendly and more powerful....Casemaker 2.2.  You will still use the same login and password to access Casemaker 2.2.  To learn more about Casemaker 2.2, please register for a FREE, live webinar at http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103119630425&s=7589&e=0015kly2JyTycOr4T1sxIBFQq2_dgYFmuQ3vr887mBj9qr9rhWCKFGPV0_f3NfMhr2z9Bwp09x7JsF3qz-u6nEW4akrhiBOGA-yXD8id2nyEKlh6n7Avhdqxwm7ObyWNl0OoaqNV7lLfkcTfxfJTeiX0BVVzqKtDUyuziW9OK-hWkz3pcxX0wakyw== 

 

 

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.  

 

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PHISING SCAMS - The State Bar has again received notice of several phising/solicitation scams. Members need to be careful in responding to any email from an individual they do not know.