STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

        At a Regular Term of the Supreme Court of Appeals continued and held at Charleston, Kanawha County, on the 24th day of February, 1999, the following order was made and entered:

IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO RULE 5.3 OF THE RULES TO GOVERN
            MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

        On a former day, to-wit, February 22, 1999, came the West Virginia Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission, by Hope L. Gresham, its coordinator, and proposed amendments to Rule 5.3 of the Rules to Govern Mandatory Continuing Legal Education. Upon consideration whereof, the Court doth hereby amend the proposed amendments and doth hereby adopt the proposed amendments as amended by the Court, effective this date. New language is indicated in bold with the amendment by the Court underlined.

"RULES TO GOVERN MANDATORY CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

Rule 5.3A

        New graduates and new admittees, beginning July 1, 1999, are required to attend a mandatory Bridge-the-Gap seminar sponsored by the West Virginia State Bar within six months prior to admission or within twelve months after admission to the West Virginia State Bar. The mandatory Bridge-the-Gap seminar shall be offered at least two times per year. If an attorney is unable to attend the live mandatory Bridge-the-Gap seminar, the attorney may file a request with the Commission for approval to complete the mandatory Bridge-the-Gap seminar by audio or video tape. MCLE credit shall be available for participating in the mandatory Bridge-the-Gap seminar.

        Any lawyer subject to this requirement who fails to complete the mandatory Bridge-the-Gap seminar within sixty days after written notice of noncompliance from the MCLE Commission shall have such lawyer's license to practice law in the State of West Virginia automatically suspended until such lawyer has complied with such requirement. Any member of the West Virginia State Bar otherwise in good standing who is suspended for failure to complete the mandatory Bridge-the-Gap program shall be reinstated as a member of the West Virginia State Bar upon completion of the mandatory course and fulfillment of other such administrative requirements.

Rule 5.3B

        Any lawyer not previously admitted to practice in West Virginia who is admitted during the first twelve months of any 24-month reporting period is required to complete 12 hours in approved MCLE activities including at least 3 hours in legal ethics, office management, or substance abuse before the end of the reporting period. Any lawyer not previously admitted during the second twelve months of any 24-month reporting period is exempt for that entire reporting period."

A True Copy

                                                                       _______________________
                                                                        Deborah L. McHenry, Clerk
                                                                        Supreme Court of Appeals