Chance to Save $15 on 5th Annual Comedy Night Ends May 7

On May 22, be part of a worthy cause at the YLD's Fifth Annual Comedy Night and Silent Auction, a fundraiser benefiting the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, a non-profit group that provides funding to Philadelphia legal service organizations that represent individuals struggling with poverty, abuse and discrimination.

The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Franklin Institute and features a 4-hour open bar, hors d'oeuvres, and comedian Dan Cummins, a headliner on "Comedy Central Presents" and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson."

Since 2005, the YLD has raised tens of thousands of dollars for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation through this signature fundraiser, a contribution that has been instrumental in helping legal service organizations achieve justice for the indigent. This year's event seeks to continue this tradition while providing guests plenty of laughs and a range of valuable items to bid on through a silent auction.

These items include overnight stays and a gourmet meal at Philadelphia's Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel or Harrah's Resort Atlantic City; unique tours of Philadelphia landmarks; Phillies tickets and signed Eagles memorabilia; gift certificates to renowned Philadelphia restaurants; and lunch at the Vesper Club with Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, among many others.

Tickets to the YLD’s Fifth Annual Comedy Night & Silent Auction are $65 for both Bar Association members and non-members. This special pricing ends May 7, when the ticket cost will rise to $85 through May 17, when registration ends. No walk-ins will be accepted. CLICK HERE to register now. Download the official event flyer HERE.

The YLD is also seeking sponsors for the event and donors to the silent auction. Sponsorship contributions range from $750 to $1500 with corresponding benefits. Click here to learn more and for a sponsorship form. All donations for the silent auction are welcome. In the past, these have included tickets to Philadelphia sporting events and shows, gift certificates to restaurants, spas and hotels, items from local shops, and a variety of others. Click here for a donation form.

TONIGHT: Get An Inside Look at KYW Newsradio 1060

Join us tonight from 5:30 to 7 p.m. as the Philadelphia Bar Association Academy presents "All News, All the Time: An Inside Look at KYW Newsradio 1060" at the top-rated news station's headquarters at 400 Market St.

During this free program, attendees will get a a behind-the-scenes look at the station's news operation and broadcast technologies presented by station executives and senior reporting staff, including a tour of the broadcast booth, as well as learn about business development opportunities from the station's vice president of sales. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served.

The program is open to all members of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Space is limited and advance registration is required. Register online HERE.

Philadelphia VIP's 15th Annual Summer Pro Bono Program, June 11

On June 11, Philadelphia VIP, the hub of pro bono legal services in Philadelphia, will host its 15th annual Summer Pro Bono Program, an event geared specifically to law students at the inception of their careers to educate them about issues of poverty in Philadelphia and to promote an ethic of service to address those issues through pro bono work.

The Summer Pro Bono Program will commence on June 10 with an Open House reception at VIP from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. June 11 will feature a training about Philadelphia's nationally recognized Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program and provide students an opportunity to conduct mock client interviews. The day will conclude with an interactive lunch with members of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania to discuss the legal profession and the importance of pro bono service. The event will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Students will then have the opportunity to put their training into practice by serving clients at a conciliation conference during June, July and early August.

The Open House reception will take place at Philadelphia VIP, 42 S. 15th Street, 4th floor. The training event and lunch will take place at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, 10th floor. The cost of the training is $50 per student and includes breakfast, lunch and training materials for the day. Please note there is special pricing for students who are not employed for the summer or whose employers do not cover the cost of attendance.

To register or for more information, please contact Theresa Brabson at 215-523-9567 or jvolunteer@phillyvip.org.  The last day to register for the program is Wednesday, June 2, 2010.

DUE NEXT MONDAY: Entries for 8th Annual Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Legal Writing Competition

The cut-off date for entries for the Bar Association's 8th Annual "Pursuit of Justice" Legal Writing Competition in honor of Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, is next Monday, May 10. This competition is open to full- and part-time law students who are in their second or third year of study during the 2009-2010 academic year at six area law schools.

The competition is open to full- and part-time law students who are in their second or third year of study during the 2009-2010 academic year at one of the following schools: Drexel University Earle Mack School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Rutgers University School of Law - Camden, Temple University Beasley School of Law, Villanova University School of Law and Widener University School of Law (Delaware Campus).

CLICK HERE for a link to the contest rules. Entries must be received by Monday, May 10 at 4 p.m.

The Bar Association recognizes the importance of excellence in legal analysis and writing skills, and seeks to award a student enrolled in an American Bar Association-approved area law school for authoring a top-quality competition submission.

Part-time law students in their third or later year of study are also eligible. Students must be in good standing at their institutions. The submission may not have been published previously, although it may have been prepared in connection with a law school course or for a law journal. The submission also may not have been submitted for any other competition during the time when it is under consideration for this competition, until after the time when awards are announced. The submission must be the work of one author alone (joint submissions will not be considered), and the author must certify that the submission has been prepared without substantial editing from others.

Candidates may submit a law review quality submission on any topic relating to rights, privileges and responsibilities under federal law. The author of the winning submission will receive a cash award of $2,500, the publication of the winning submission on the Bar Association's Web site and/or in an appropriate Bar Association publication. The winner will be presented with the award at the Association's Quarterly Meeting in October.

The co-chairs of the competition are Kathleen D. Wilkinson, partner at Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman and Dicker LLP and Secretary of the Association, and Diane Penneys Edelman, assistant dean for international programs and professor of legal writing, Villanova University School of Law.

Volunteer Now for Ronald McDonald House Dinner, June 29

On June 29, the YLD has been invited to cook and serve dinner to residents at the new Ronald McDonald House, Front and Erie streets, as part of its Family Meal Program. The Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home for families and their seriously ill children who are being treated at area hospitals. The dinner that the YLD will provide supplies the families with a nutritious meal that might otherwise be skipped and also creates an opportunity for families to share their stories and experiences.

Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. YLD volunteers are invited into the kitchen anytime after 2 p.m. to start meal preparations. The suggested menu is a salad, bread/rolls, a protein entree, a starch side dish, a vegetable side dish, and dessert, prepared for 25 to 30 people.

If you are interested, please contact Dave Koller at davidk@phillyhometownlawyer.com or (215) 545-8917 or Matthew Laver at matthew.laver@courts.phila.gov or (215) 686-7097. Once the group is finalized, you will be contacted to discuss logistics. Suggestions and recipes are welcome!

The event is absolutely free, but space is extremely limited, so advanced registration is required. Gated parking is available directly on the house property, and directions will be provided.