Philadelphia Bar Association | Today's News

View Photos from the June 30 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League and former mayor of New Orleans, delivered the Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Public Interest Lecture at the Association's Monday, June 30 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon.

A lifelong champion of individual rights, Judge Higginbotham had a legal career that spanned nearly half a century. Since Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund, delivered the first Higginbotham lecture in 1999, notables such as Juan Williams, Charles J. Ogletree, Chaka Fattah, Cornel West, Kweisi Mfume and Gwen Ifill have filled the role.

Morial served two distinguished 4-year terms as mayor of New Orleans from 1994-2002. During that time, he also served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors in 2001 and 2002.

Former Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Seymour Kurland spoke on behalf of new members of the Association's 50-, 60-, 65- and 70-Year Clubs, who were honored at the event. The Year Clubs recognize attorneys who have been practicing law for 50 years or more.

View photos from the event in the Photo Gallery. Listen to the speeches here.

Second Joint Diversity Happy Hour on Wednesday, July 9

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Join the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division and Minorities in the Profession Committee, the Barristers' Association, the South Asian Bar Association, the Asian American Bar Association of the Delaware Valley, the Hispanic Bar Association of Philadelphia and Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia as they honor five law students who will each receive a Minority Bar Scholarship.

The event will be held upstairs at Vango (18th and Sansom) from 6 - 8:30 p.m. and will feature drink specials, complimentary appetizers and a DJ. Note: We have reached our RSVP capacity! Walk-ins are welcome however drink tickets are not guaranteed.

This event is also sponsored by Kaplan, Leaman and Wolfe Court Reporters.

Riders Sought for ACS Bike-a-Thon July 13

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Team Philadelphia Bar Association will saddle up again this year and take part in the 36th Annual American Cancer Society Bike-a-Thon on Sunday, July 13.

The ride brings awareness to the issues of cancer and how it affects friends, families, colleagues and community. Another purpose of the ride is seeking to raise funds in support of cancer research. The ride leaves Philadelphia and traverses the countryside in New Jersey to an end point approximately 65 miles away in Buena Vista, N.J.

Recently, the Philadelphia Bar Association has taken a lead and sponsored a team to participate in the ride. This year, the Philadelphia Bar Association team is co-chaired by Mark Feinman and Jim Meyer. Click here to join the Philadelphia Bar Association team.

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.

Women in the Profession Committee Seeking Nominations for 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Award

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The Women in the Profession Committee is seeking nominations for the 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Award. Deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 31.

The award is conferred annually on a woman attorney who has demonstrated superior legal talent, achieved significant legal accomplishments and has furthered the advancement of women in both the profession and the community. The award presentation will be made during the October Quarterly Meeting.
The committee established the award in 1993 to recognize the important contributions that women attorneys in Philadelphia have made to the legal profession.

That year, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor presented the first award to U.S. District Court Senior Judge Norma L. Shapiro.

The award has since been presented to the late Juanita Kidd Stout, former justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; Deborah R. Willig, first woman Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association; Professor Marina Angel, of the Temple University Beasley School of Law faculty; U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Dolores K. Sloviter (former Chief Judge); U.S. District Court Judge Anita B. Brody; Leslie Anne Miller, first woman president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association; Lila G. Roomberg of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP; the late Judge Judith J. Jamison; Ellen T. Greenlee, chief defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia; former Chancellor Audrey C. Talley; U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O. Rendell; Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Phyllis W. Beck; Roberta D. Pichini and Lynn A. Marks.

Click here to print a nomination form for the 2008 Sandra Day O'Connor Award.

Bar Night at the Phillies Aug. 5

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Join your colleagues and friends at Bar Association Night at the Phillies on Tuesday, Aug. 5 as the Phils take on the Florida Marlins at Citizens Bank Park at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $38 and can be ordered by clicking here.

Seating (subject to availability) with fellow Philadelphia Bar Association supporters will be located on the Field Level Baseline (Sections 108 & 109). There is a special $2 discount off the cost of these tickets.

To order your tickets for this special event, click here and enter the promotion code BAR.

Bench-Bar Annual Conference Registration Open

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Registration is now open for the Association's 2008 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference on Sept. 19-21 at Bally's Atlantic City.

This year's conference is expected to bring together more than 500 lawyers and judges from the Philadelphia area for three days of CLE programming that lets practitioners and the judiciary share ideas and best practices. The theme of this year's conference is "The Sound of Philadelphia."

Registration for the full three days of the conference is $549 for those members who register by Aug. 15. That rate includes all meals and CLE. For those who register after Aug. 15, the registration fee is $629. For public interest attorneys, government attorneys and members of the Young Lawyers Division, the full conference registration fee is $479. The rate is $379 for those attorneys registering by Aug. 15. Other one-day and two-day registration packages are available. For those prices, visit philadelphiabar.org.

Bally's Atlantic City offers a world-class spa, salon, fitness center and 18 restaurants to meet every craving. Experience the Old West at Bally's Wild Wild West Casino with nearly 74,000 feet of gaming accessible via a short walkway connected to Bally's.

Bally's is now accepting hotel reservations for attendees. Book early for the best rates: rooms on Thursday, Sept. 18 are $99; rooms Friday, Sept. 19 are $144, and Saturday, Sept. 20 rooms are $189. A limited number of room are available for the $189 rate on Saturday night. Call 1-800-345-7253 for reservations and mention you are attending the Philadelphia Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference to get these special room rates.

Sponsors of the event are: