A MESSAGE FROM CHARLENE A. VAUGHAN, CHAIR OF THE STATE BAR GOVERNMENT LAWYERS COMMITTEE - The State Bar Government Lawyers Committee will have a special meeting at 12 noon on December 14, 2010 at the Office of Judges to discuss strategies for increasing membership to the committee and our presence within the State Bar. 

Bring your own lunch.  The address is One Players' Club Drive, Charleston, WV. (towards airport - 1^st right off Greenbrier St. (towards airport), past YMCA, top of hill to the right, then left onto Players Club Drive)).

There will be a future notice of our next regularly scheduled Committee meeting.

The Office of the Governor is currently accepting applications for the position of Executive Director, West Virginia Public Defender Services.  The Executive Director is responsible for the development and improvement of programs for legal representation to indigent persons through private attorneys and full-time Public Defenders.  Duties include, but are not limited to, policy making; developing and implementing programs of education; editing all legal publications and documents issued from the agency; overseeing and supervising agency staff; preparing and managing the agency's budget; representing the agency before the Legislature and assisting in drafting legislation.  Additional duties include approval of all grants, loans to or contracts made with  public defender corporations and various other individuals for the purposes of providing legal representation to indigent persons as well as overseeing the work of the Criminal Law Research Center.

Qualified Candidates must be a licensed attorney admitted to the State Bar of West Virginia as well as five years of full-time or equivalent part-time paid experience in the practice of law or as a public defender.  Salary is set by West Virginia Code �6-7-2a(b) at $70,000.

Applications must be submitted no later than December 15, 2010 to:

Becky Neal, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs

Office of Governor Earl Ray Tomblin

State Capitol, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, WV 25305

MEMORIAL SERVICE - The public is cordially invited to attend a Memorial Service in Remembrance of the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Maxwell on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at Davis & Elkins College, Hermanson Campus Center, Harper-McNeeley Auditorium,100 Campus Drive, Elkins, WV 26241.

Fifth Annual WORKING TOGETHER Conference - A Partnership of Public and Private Tax Professionals - Working Together is a partnership of public and private tax professionals, where practitioner groups join with the IRS and the West Virginia State Tax Department  in sponsoring an annual conference. By continuing to enhance the level of communication and trust among the groups, a constructive working relationship is being built that will reduce the tax burden on the public and practitioners alike, and will further the IRS/State Tax Department goal of improving voluntary compliance.  The Conference will be held on Thursday, January 6, 2011 at the University of Charleston. A continental breakfast and hot buffet lunch will be provided.  To obtain more information regarding the Conference, click here.  The West Virginia Tax Institute is a presumptively-accredited provider for MCLE activities in West Virginia. This course qualifies for 8.0 hours of credit under the West Virginia Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.