"Visitors"

On two occasions during this past summer, visitors from foreign countries were in our state of learn more about our legal system and the practice of law.

The first group were law students and a law professor from Croatia. They spent approximately one month visiting various parts of West Virginia and Washington, D.C. The exchange program, which includes visits by West Virginians to Croatia, is coordinated by Dr. Eugene Harper of the University of Charleston.

This was the fourth or fifth year that the State Bar has been involved. The students also meet with Supreme Court officials, sit in on night sessions at the Magistrate Court, talk with Circuit Court Judges and public officials as well as go to Morgantown to see the West Virginia University College of Law.

The students are quite knowledgeable about the legal system in the United States and always have many questions about legal ethics, government activities, professionalism and how the legal process occurs. They are given some materials about the State Bar as well as having one of our special lunches at the State Bar Center.

The second group was made up of public officials from The Slovak Republic. They were in our state to learn more about various activities of state government, including procurement. The program was coordinated by Dr. Sudhakar Jamkhandi of Bluefield State College. This is the second time that the State Bar has made presentations to foreign visitors who were involved in this particular endeavor.

Dr. Jamkhandi works very closely with State Senate Clerk Darrell Holmes for the sessions that are held here in West Virginia and the Doctor and the Clerk have had the opportunity to have exchange visits in Europe.

At the meeting this summer, Attorney General Darrell McGraw and Deputy Attorney General Dawn Warfield talked with the foreign officials about open government activities requirements. They also received facts and materials about the State Bar and our legal profession. Again, there were several questions regarding legal ethics and regulatory matters.

These visitors from both foreign countries made it clear that they were moving forward in setting up democracies and that a well functioning legal system was integral in being successful in their endeavors. They were impressive in their desire to learn about the system of laws which we have in our country and determining how they could use it for the benefit of the citizens in their countries.

It is easy for us to become complacent with the rights and responsibilities that are guaranteed to us and are part of our everyday lives. It is very thought provoking and refreshing to better understand what is good about our country and to share it with wonderful people from other parts of the world. We are truly part of a global community.

Congratulations to Dr. Harper and Dr. Jamkhandi for furthering the education process with our friends from the other side of the world. It was a very worthwhile experience to have them with us here in "Almost Heaven."