WV Alliance for Children Executive Director Scott Boileau, on the left, with Bar Foundation President John Tinney.

BAR FOUNDATION GRANT

          Recently, the Bar Foundation Board of Directors approved a grant to the WV Alliance for Children to improve the administration of justice. The funds will be utilized to produce and distribute a handbook for foster parents designed to help them understand the role and responsibilities of the guardian-ad-litem. Additional sponsors for this worthwhile project are the WV Court Improvement Board and the WV Department of Health and Human Resources. Bar Foundation grants totaling more than $35,000 have been distributed since June, 2008.

BAR EXAMINATION

          The National Conference of Bar Examiners has released its 2009 statistical report for persons taking and passing the bar examination which was given in February and July, 2009. The national passage rate was 68% with WV exceeding it with 73%. Surrounding states had the following passage rates—Kentucky (77%), Maryland (69%), Ohio (76%), Pennsylvania (76%) and Virginia (69%). The ten year national average (2000-2009) was 68% and here in WV, it was 73%.

ABA/BAR FOUNDATION FELLOWS

          The WV Bar Foundation Fellows and the American Bar Association Fellows are discussing plans for joint activities and events to benefit the justice system in the state. Both groups consist of members of the judiciary and lawyers who are leaders in the justice system and in their communities. The state coordinator for the ABA Fellows is Robert M. Steptoe, Jr., a Past President of the WV Bar Foundation.