July 12, 2011

The People's Law School 2011 Kicks Off Sept. 13, Provides Six Weeks of Legal Education to Area Residents

One of the YLD's most popular public service efforts kicks off in a little more than two months. The People's Law School returns on September 13 for six weeks of legal education open to all area residents. The program, which features courses on a range of legal topics, takes place every Tuesday night through October 18 in the Jury Assembly Room at the Criminal Justice Center. Stay tuned for more details.

Fraudulent Conveyance Task Force Sponsoring July 20 LegalLine

Philadelphia-area residents in need of legal advice on matters involving real estate fraud, including properties stolen through the recording of fraudulent deeds and mortgages taken out against homes without the owner's knowledge, can speak with a volunteer attorney by calling LegalLine P.M. at 215-238-6333 from 5 to 8 p.m on Wednesday, July 20. The session is sponsored by the Bar Association’s Fraudulent Conveyance Task Force. Callers with other legal issues are also welcome to call for advice.
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Ogletree to Moderate Opening Session at Bench-Bar

Professor Charles J. Ogletree, the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University, will be the moderator of the opening session of the 2011 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference at Harrah's Atlantic City on Oct. 14-15. Click here to save $80 on your registration fee. But hurry, this offer ends on Sept. 16. READ MORE

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Ogletree to Moderate Opening Session at Bench-Bar

Professor Charles J. Ogletree, the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law and director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard University, will be the moderator of the opening session of the 2011 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference at Harrah's Atlantic City on Oct. 14-15.

Ogletree will be the moderator of the opening plenary "I'm Not Saying That to Any Judge! The Lasting Implications of Luzerne County." Panelists for that program, which will explore the implications for the bench and bar of the Luzerne County "kids for cash" scandal, will be announced at a later date.
Enjoy early-bird savings when you register for the 2011 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference Oct. 14-15 at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City. Click here to save $80 on your registration fee. But hurry, this offer ends on Sept. 16!

The Bench-Bar & Annual Conference provides attendees with the opportunity to earn CLE credit while networking with colleagues and members of the bench.

Registration for members is $349 if booked by Sept. 16. For non-members, registration is $399. Members of the Young Lawyers Division and public interest and government attorneys can attend for $199. For those wishing to attend only the Grand Reception at The Pool at Harrah's on Friday, Oct. 14, tickets are $150 for all members and $175 for non-members. Tickets will be an additional $25 if purchased at the door.

For those wishing to attend Friday's session only, tickets are $299 for members, $149 for the Young Lawyers Division and government or public interest attorneys and $349 for non-members. Members and guests wishing to attend without receiving CLE credit will pay $200. For non-members, the cost is $225. Admission includes all sponsored meals and events. Those wishing to attend programs on Saturday, Oct. 15 will only pay $229, while YLD members and government and public interest attorneys can attend for $79 and $279 for non-members.

Click here to register.

Sponsors for the 2011 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference include The Legal Intelligencer, Iron Mountain and JAMS.

Next Networking Happy Hours: This Thursday, July 14, and August 4

Enjoy drinks and appetizers while socializing with friends and colleagues at the July 14 and August 4 Networking Happy Hours.

THIS THURSDAY, July 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Ladder 15

The YLD and the Camden County Bar Association's YLD will co-host the Thursday, July 14 Networking Happy Hour at Ladder 15, 1528 Sansom St. The event is sponsored by Angela Barnshaw of Keller Williams Realty and Woodard & Curran.

August 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m., The Pyramid Club

The YLD and the Young CPAs will co-host the Thursday, August 4 Networking Happy Hour at The Pyramid Club, 1735 Market Street.

Registration is not required for either event. The first 50 to arrive will receive complimentary drink tickets. We hope to see you there!

National Symposium on Diversity in the Legal Profession, Nov. 8

Chief Legal Officers and Law Firm Managing Partners from across the nation will assemble for the Philadelphia Bar Association's National Symposium on Diversity in the Legal Profession on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at The Union League of Philadelphia.

The half-day symposium will begin with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Robert J. Grey Jr., executive director of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. Grey is a past president of the American Bar Association.

Three concurrent breakout sessions may focus on topics such as the role(s) white men can play to advance diversity and inclusion in corporate legal departments and law firms; generational diversity and its impact in the workplace; successful pipeline initiatives and mentoring programs; and an employment law update. The symposium runs from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. and a VIP networking reception begins at 5:30 p.m. The VIP networking reception will provide a forum for discussion with remarks from a prominent speaker.

Speakers for the National Symposium on Diversity in the Legal Profession include Thomas E. Cabaniss, managing partner, McGuireWoods LLP, Richmond, Va.; Mark Hershey, senior vice president, general counsel & secretary, Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Lancaster, Pa.; H. Eric Hilton, senior vice president, secretary and general counsel, H. J. Russell & Company and Concessions International, LLC, Atlanta; Alan J. Hoffman, co-chair and managing partner, Blank Rome LLP, Philadelphia; Curtis L. Mack, partner, McGuireWoods LLP, Atlanta; Robert A. Nicholas, partner and global director of legal personnel, Reed Smith LLP, New York; Karl A. Racine, managing partner, Venable LLP, Washington, D.C.; Robin Sangston, vice president, legal affairs, Cox Communications, Inc., Atlanta; Mark S. Stewart, Chair, Ballard Spahr LLP; LeRoy J. Watkins, Jr., partner, Jackson Lewis LLP, Morristown, N.J.; Gerry L. Williams, partner, DLA Piper, Atlanta; Sherry D. Williams, senior vice president, chief ethics and compliance officer, Halliburton, Houston; and Sandra S. Yamate, chief executive officer, Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession, Chicago.

For additional information on the National Symposium on Diversity in the Legal Profession, contact Naomi K. McLaurin at 215-238-6340 or nmclaurin@philabar.org.

Take Part in VIP's 30 for 30 Challenge

Matthew S. Olesh and Martha F. Reilly, co-chairs of Philadelphia VIP's 30th Anniversary Engagement Committee, are calling upon the members of Philadelphia's legal community to participate in the "30 for 30 Challenge." They are asking all Philadelphia-area attorneys to commit to 30 hours of pro bono service this year with an organization of their choosing in honor of Philadelphia VIP's 30th anniversary.

The "30 for 30" pledge form is available on Philadelphia VIP's website at phillyvip.org. All pledge signers will be recognized at a special 30th Anniversary ceremony during National Pro Bono Week this October. Philadelphia VIP will also track all participation and provide special recognition to practices of varying sizes with the highest rates of participation.

Herron to Receive Brennan Distinguished Jurist Award

Judge John W. Herron, considered to be an architect of the First Judicial District's Commerce Case Management Program, has been selected as the recipient of the Association's 2011 Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award.

Judge Herron will be presented with the award, which recognizes a jurist who adheres to the highest ideals of judicial service, at an upcoming quarterly meeting.

"I am truly delighted that Judge Herron is being recognized for his exemplary service to our Philadelphia courts over many years, and for his extraordinarily accomplishments and devotion to our justice system," said Brennan Award Committee Chair Maria A. Feeley.

"The Justice Brennan Award is a terrific honor and I feel quite shocked and surprised to be this year's recipient," said Judge Herron. "It has been a wonderful privilege creating the Commerce Court and witnessing its growth and acceptance by the bar due in large part to the efforts of the core group of lawyers involved and Judge Albert W. Sheppard Jr. I am quite proud to share this award with all of them and with all members of the bar and the judges of this court who have supported the Commerce Program over the years."

Judge Herron, who now sits in Orphans' Court, is a graduate of Duke University and Dickinson Law School. He is a former assistant district attorney as served as chief disciplinary counsel for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1973 to 1985. He was first elected to the bench in 1987 and has been retained twice since then. He was administrative judge of the FJD's Trial Division from 1996 to 2002.

Previous winners are Justice Brennan, U.S. Magistrate Judges L. Felipe Restrepo and Timothy R. Rice, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Annette M. Rizzo, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Albert W. Sheppard Jr., Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Sandra Mazer Moss, Philadelphia Municipal Court Judge Louis Presenza, U.S. District Court Judge Edmund V. Ludwig, U.S. Magistrate Judge James R. Melinson, U.S. District Court Judge Louis Pollak, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Russell M. Nigro, U.S. District Court Judge James T. Giles, U.S. District Court Judge Louis C. Bechtle, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Edward R. Becker, Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Phyllis W. Beck and Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Alex Bonavitacola.

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