Philadelphia Bar Association | Today's News

Advice on Balancing Work, Life Dec. 2

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Law Practice Management Division and the Philadelphia Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators will present "So Why Don't They Call it Life-Work Balance?" on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Our panel will share their tips on how to prioritize what is important
in order to obtain harmony between the demands of work and the rest of life.

Panelists include:

Jennings Durand, associate, Dechert LLP
Michael B. Hayes associate, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads LLP
Regina M. Foley of Raynes McCarty
Kathleen D. Wilkinson, partner, Wilson, Elser, Mosk-owitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP.

The program will be moderated by Molly Peck-man, director of associate development, Dechert LLP.

The program begins at 8 a.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.

Click here to register online.

Symposium on Norris Law Firm Nov. 19

Fri, 7 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, in association with Temple University and the Philadelphia Bar Association will host the symposium "Creating Access – The Norris Law Firm and the Liacouras Committee" on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

More than 50 years ago, a time when African-Americans had few, if any, options to practice in majority law firms, a courageous and talented group of African-American lawyers formed what is considered by many to be Philadelphia's first African-American law firm – Norris Schmidt Green Harris Higginbotham & Brown. The firm's in-court victories, as well as its out of court influence, created access for countless persons across the region and nation. The firm never numbered more than a dozen lawyers at a given time, and still produced many of the superstars of the profession. A number of the firm's lawyers partnered with others in the Philadelphia legal community in an effort to increase the number of African-American lawyers in the Commonwealth by reforming Pennsylvania's bar examination procedures.
Responding to their efforts, the Philadelphia Bar Association appointed a special committee chaired by Peter Liacouras to determine whether Pennsylvania's bar examination procedures were in fact biased against African-American candidates. The committee published its findings in December of 1970, and changes were made in the Commonwealth’s examination procedures that substantially increased the number of African-American lawyers practicing in Philadelphia and statewide. Lawyers from a cross section of the Philadelphia bar, including fabled African-American lawyer and civil rights activist Austin Norris, worked together to bring about the report and these changes, which have forever altered the face of Philadelphia's legal community.
"Creating Access" will tell the story of how these Philadelphia lawyers came together to change our profession, primarily through the recollections of a panel of witnesses to and participants in these events. By retelling their story, we celebrate the achievements of the Norris Law Firm, the Liacouras Committee, and the other diversity pioneers who contributed to making a legal career accessible to a more diverse group of lawyers, providing an example of professional courage and commitment to principle that continues to inspire today.

Symposium participants include William H. Brown III, Robert L. Archie Jr., Peter J. Liacouras, Hon. Paul A. Dandridge, Hon. Ricardo C. Jackson, W. Bourne Ruthrauff, Professor Robert Reinstein and moderator JoAnne A. Epps, dean of Temple University Beasley School of Law.

The program will be held at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St., beginning at 6 p.m. RSVP by Nov. 14 by calling 215-751-2237 or e-mailing: sbender@schnader.com.

Nine Seek Seven Seats on YLD Executive Committee

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Nine candidates are running for seven seats on the Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee. The candidates are:

Alexis Arena of Flaster/Greenberg P.C.
Brandon S. Bruce, law clerk to Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Frederica A. Massiah-Jackson
Alicia A. Garcia of Margolis Edelstein
Edward Scott Goldis of Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernter, Tanner, Weinstock & Dodig
Christopher M. Guth of Blank Rome LLP
Rachel Kopp of Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis, P.C.
Justin S. Moriconi of Alan L. Frank Law Associates, P.C.
Alyson Oswald of Dechert LLP
Richard Vanderslice of Petrelli & Vanderslice P.C.

Ballots will be mailed to regular, voting members on or before Nov. 24. Those members who wish to vote by mail must have their ballots received (not postmarked, but received) at Bar Association headquarters by 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 5. Ballots received after that time will not be counted. Anyone not returning their ballot in a timely fashion may still vote in person on Monday, Dec. 8 at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue in conjunction with the Association’s Annual Meeting Luncheon from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Annual Meeting, beginning at 12 p.m., will feature remarks by Chancellor-Elect Sayde J. Ladov with her plans for her year in office. Click here to purchase tickets to the Annual Meeting.

Philadelphia Bar Association Supports Mayor’s Decision to Freeze Cuts

Thu, 6 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

PHILADELPHIA – Although a long-time advocate of business and wage tax cuts (stressing that this encourages attorneys and firms to develop and deepen business across the city), the Philadelphia Bar Association fully supports Mayor Nutter’s call to freeze additional cuts in the Business Privilege and Wage tax through 2015.

The decision to freeze cuts was part of major budget revisions announced earlier today by Mayor Nutter in a live, televised address.

Speaking on behalf of the Philadelphia Bar Association, Chancellor Michael Pratt says, “We stand firmly behind Mayor Nutter on this decision to freeze business and wage tax cuts in order to help ensure adequate revenue streams during these difficult economic times. Considering what the mayor must do to protect citizens, our great city and its economic future, we fully support his call on City Council to suspend cuts in the Business Privilege and Wage tax throughout 2015.

“We believe that this is not only a responsive measure, but the right and responsible one.”

Mr. Pratt continues, “As members of the legal profession, we are sworn to uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of citizens. The Philadelphia Bar Association will continue to work closely with Mayor Nutter, his administration, City Council and the courts to ensure that this is done responsibly in order to guarantee a safe, vibrant and growing city.”

Founded in 1802, the 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association is America’s first chartered metropolitan bar association and the largest one in Pennsylvania.
Attorneys, judges and politicians look to the Philadelphia Bar Association for guidance on controversial legal issues and as an organized meeting ground for professional support and information sharing. Members of the general public also turn to the Philadelphia Bar Association for help and general information on legal issues.

The Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor's Diversity Award

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Purpose of Award: The award is to publicly acknowledge, recognize and honor a law firm, legal organization or individual who has made a substantial contribution to diversity and inclusion in the legal field. Nominations for the award are accepted from any member of the Philadelphia Bar Association

Criteria: Potential awardees may be an individual attorney, law firm of any size, legal services organization, or law school. Note of correction: The nominee's place of business (not residence) must be Philadelphia County. Nominees should demonstrate a sustained and continuous appreciation of and contribution to diversity and inclusion in the field. However, nominations will be accepted for a single outstanding contribution.

If nomination is for a law firm, law school or organization, may include an outstanding or innovative programmatic activity that has either highlighted diversity, increased diverse representation or supported inclusion efforts in the legal field. These activity(ies) should support the areas of commitment to diversity mentioned in the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Statement of Diversity Principles. If nomination is for an individual, must demonstrate a sustained commitment to the tenets of diversity through activity(ties) that should support the areas of commitment to diversity mentioned in the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Statement of Diversity Principles.

Nomination Process: Complete the nomination form, which can be obtained from the website, and return to the Philadelphia Bar Association by 5:00 pm on November 14, 2008. Nominations will be reviewed by the Chancellor’s Diversity Award Committee and the recipient will be notified shortly thereafter.

To download materials, please click here.

For more information, please contact Sean Lincoln

Chancellor's Diversity Training Series

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

This calender year, the series will focus on the following subject areas:

*Trasitioning-Government to Private Practice- Thursday, November 20, 2008 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This workshop is intended to help attendees lear about legal and other professional skills and abilities needed, as well as the practical steps that can be taken to move the practicing law in the public sphere to a private firm.

*Life at a Mide-Size Firm- December 16, 2008 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This workshop is intended to help attendees learn about working at mid-size firms. Of particular interest are the benefits of mid-size firms, as well as how mid-size firms contribute to an attorney's growth and development in the legal profession.

All workshops will be held at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 11th Floor. Bar Association membership is not required and there is no cost to attend. A light snack and beverages will be served as part of the events.

To reserve your seat at the table for any of these workshops, please register online at : calender of events

Senior Lawyers, YLD Team Up for Mentoring

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Young attorneys will once again have the opportunity to gain valuable insights from senior practitioners under the Young Lawyers Division's Attorney Mentoring Program.

More than 20 senior lawyers have agreed to serve as mentors to members of the Young Lawyers Division. These distinguished lawyers come from diverse backgrounds and include solo practitioners, attorneys from large firms and attorneys who have been in government service.

If you are interested in being matched with a mentor through this program, please contact Michael B. Hayes at mhayes@mmwr.com.

Free One-Year Bar Memberships Now Available

Fri, 30 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Attorneys working full-time for a federal, state or local governmental agency or a public interest agency who have never before been members of the Philadelphia Bar Association are now eligible for a free-one year membership in the Association.

"We want these attorneys to be a part of the Bar, and to introduce them to the many benefits of membership," said Chancellor A. Michael Pratt. "Plus, if they join anytime between now and the end of 2008, they'll receive the remainder of 2008 and all of 2009 free. That’s up to 19 months of free membership!"

Among the benefits of membership touted by Pratt:

You'll make invaluable contacts that will continue to help you throughout your career. Access career planning and placement services through our partner, JuriStaff, Inc., enjoy the advantages of a dynamic Legislative Program that champions your interests to lawmakers, a Lawyer Fee Dispute Resolution Program, and more.
With more than 50 committees, nine sections and two divisions, including our new Law Practice Management Division, you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and network with colleagues in every possible area of practice. Plus, you’ll have access to our extensive network of consultants to provide solutions in your daily work.
You will receive significant discounts on selected continuing legal education courses offered through the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to attend Chancellor's Forums, meetings and special events, including our Quarterly and Annual Meetings and our Bench-Bar and Annual Conference.
* You will automatically receive The Philadelphia Lawyer quarterly magazine offering substantive law articles on emerging trends, and the Philadelphia Bar Reporter monthly newspaper. In addition, the Association's award-winning Web site, audio and video podcast library, list serve network and bi-weekly Bar Reporter Online e-newsletter will connect you to colleagues in dozens of practice areas.
You'll enjoy special value rates on the Philadelphia Bar Association Platinum Plus® MasterCard® Credit Card with WorldPoints® Rewards, Alamo® and Avis® car rentals, and the GlobalFit® Corporate Fitness Program.
"Since 1802, the Philadelphia Bar Association has proudly served the public and the profession. Now, everyone can share in that pride and collegiality," Pratt said.