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Fees

State Bar membership fees are assessed on an annual basis following our fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) of each year. WV State Bar Bylaws Article 3

Fees

 

Active & Active But Not Practicing Membership Fees

  • Any active member who is first admitted to practice law between May first and July first is exempt from paying an active membership fee for the fiscal year in which the admission takes place, but must complete the registration process set forth in Bylaw 2.02 before engaging in the Practice of Law -WV State Bar Bylaw 3.03(2) 
     
  • Admitted less than one year $100
     
  • Admitted one to three years $200
     
  • Admitted over three years & Admission by reciprocity $250

Inactive Membership Fees

  • Inactive members $100
     
  • Inactive 70+ members $0

 

Penalties

 

Late Fee Payment Active & Active But Not Practicing Members - $200 

  • Rule 3.02 Penalty for nonpayment of membership fees (a) Active and active non-practicing members. After the first day of September of each year, a penalty in an amount set by the Board, not less than $200, shall be assessed to any active or active non-practicing member who is delinquent in their membership fees. The Executive Director shall notify all members in default in the payment of membership fees of their delinquency, that the penalty has attached, and that the member will be automatically suspended if the membership fee and penalty are not paid within sixty days of the mailing date of the notice. Such notice shall be given by certified or registered mail, addressed to such member at their mailing address of record. (b) Inactive members. The State Bar is not required to send annual membership fee notices to inactive members who have failed to pay inactive membership fees for a period of three years. After the first day of September of the third year, the Executive Director shall notify each such member of the delinquency in the payment of the membership fees, and that the member will be automatically suspended if the membership fees are not paid within sixty days. 

Failure to Comply with Financial Responsibility Disclosure (FRD) Requirements Late Fee - $200

  • Rule 4.04 Penalty for nondisclosure After the first day of September of each year, a penalty in an amount set by the Board, not less than $200, shall be assessed to any active member who has not complied with the financial responsibility disclosure requirement. The Executive Director shall notify all noncompliant members that the penalty has attached because of their delinquency, and that the member will be automatically suspended if the disclosure requirement is not met within sixty days after the mailing date of the notice. Such notice shall be given by certified or registered mail, addressed to such member at their mailing address of record.

Failure to Comply with IOLTA Disclosure Requirement Late Fee - $200

  • Rule 10.02 The West Virginia State Bar is authorized to assess an administrative penalty of two hundred dollars ($200) to any lawyer who does not comply with the yearly reporting requirement. 

 

 

Suspension & Reinstatement

 

MEMBERSHIP FEES

  • Rule 3.03 Administrative suspension for nonpayment of membership fees
    (a) Active members. If an active member remains in default for sixty days after the date of mailing the notice provided by Rule 3.02, they shall be automatically suspended from active membership in the State Bar and shall not further engage in the Practice of Law until they have been reinstated. The Executive Director shall give notice of such suspension to the Judges of Courts of Record in the State, the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals and such other courts, clerks, tribunals, or bodies — judicial, administrative or executive — as the Board of Governors may designate. Notice of the suspension shall be given to the delinquent member by certified or registered mail, addressed to such member at their mailing address of record. It is the duty of every member of the State Bar to keep informed relative to the payment of membership fees, and failure to receive notice of nonpayment or suspension shall not affect the operation of such suspension. (b) Active non-practicing and inactive members. If an active non-practicing or inactive member remains in default for sixty days after the date of mailing the notice provided by Rule 3.02, they will be automatically suspended from membership in the State Bar and shall not be entitled to any rights or privileges of membership until they have been reinstated.
     
  • 3.04 Reinstatement of members administratively suspended for nonpayment of membership fees.
    (a) Active members. Whenever an active member suspended solely for nonpayment of membership fees has paid all accrued fees and penalties, and has shown that the member is in compliance with the pertinent mandatory continuing legal education requirements, they shall be automatically reinstated and the Executive Director shall thereupon give notice thereof to the judges, courts, clerks, tribunals, and bodies to which notice has been given of the suspension of such member for the nonpayment of membership fees. In addition to the penalty authorized by Rule 3.02, a reinstatement fee in an amount set by the Board, not less than $200, shall be added to the fees owed by active members who are suspended for the nonpayment of membership fees. (b) Active non-practicing members. Whenever an active non-practicing member is suspended for nonpayment of membership fees has paid all accrued fees and penalties, they shall be reinstated by the Executive Director. In addition to the penalty authorized under Rule 3.02, a reinstatement fee in an amount set by the Board, not less than $200, shall be added to the fees owed by active non-practicing members who are suspended for the nonpayment of membership fees. (c) Inactive members. Whenever an inactive member is suspended for nonpayment of membership fees has paid all accrued fees and penalties, they shall be reinstated by the Executive Director. A reinstatement fee in an amount set by the Board, not less than $100, shall be added to the fees owed by inactive members who are suspended for the nonpayment of membership fees.

FINANCIAL RESPONSABILITY DISCLOSURE

  • 4.05 Administrative suspension for nondisclosure
    If an active member fails to comply with the disclosure requirement within sixty days after the mailing date of the notice provided in Rule 4.04, they shall be automatically suspended from active membership in the State Bar and shall not further engage in Practice of Law until they have been reinstated. The Executive Director shall give notice of such suspension to the Judges of the Courts of Record in the State, the Clerk of the Supreme Court of Appeals and such other courts, clerks, tribunals, or bodies — judicial, administrative or executive — as the Board of Governors may designate. Notice of the suspension shall be given to the non-compliant member by certified or registered mail, addressed to the member at their mailing address of record. 
     
  • 4.06 Reinstatement of members administratively suspended for noncompliance with disclosure
    Whenever a member suspended solely for noncompliance with disclosure has paid all accrued penalties and fees and has shown that the member is in compliance with the disclosure requirements and pertinent mandatory continuing legal education requirements, that member shall be automatically reinstated and the Executive Director shall thereupon give notice thereof to the judges, courts, clerks, tribunals, and bodies to which notice has been given of the suspension of such member for the noncompliance with disclosure. In addition to the penalty authorized by Rule 4.04, a reinstatement fee in an amount set by the Board, not less than $200, shall be added to the fees owed by all members who are suspended for non-compliance with the financial responsibility disclosure requirements.