Deadline Oct. 27 for Nominations for YLD Executive Committee Posts

Every year, seven new members are elected to serve three-year terms on the YLD Executive Committee. This year's Election will take place on December 8 in conjunction with the Bar Association's Annual Meeting. Nominations must arrive at Bar Association headquarters by 3 p.m. on Oct. 27. CLICK FOR DETAILS, NOMINATION FORMS

TOMORROW: October Networking Happy Hour at Alfa

Tomorrow, October 14, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., join your colleagues and other young professionals at Alfa (1709 Walnut Street) for the YLD's Networking Happy Hour. The event is co-hosted by the Bar Association's Criminal Justice Section and Labor and Employment Law Committee and sponsored by Veritext.

Registration is not required however the first 50 to arrive will receive a complimentary drink ticket. Drink specials and appetizers will be on hand as well.

Deadline Oct. 27 for Nominations for YLD Executive Committee Posts

Every year, seven new members are elected to serve three-year terms on the YLD Executive Committee. This year's Election will take place on December 8 in conjunction with the Bar Association's Annual Meeting. Nominations must arrive at Bar Association headquarters by 3 p.m. on Oct. 27.

Any Voting Member of the Young Lawyers Division is eligible for election to the Executive Committee provided, however, that the term of office for which the individual runs shall not extend beyond his or her membership in the Division. A YLD member is eligible if he/she is 37 years of age or less in the year 2012 or, if he/she is older than 37, he/she will not be celebrating more than his/her third year of practice in 2012. The Nomination Petition and Personal Statement must be returned to the offices of the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, Eleventh Floor, no later than 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27, 2009.

At 5:00 p.m. that same day, we will have an informational meeting in the 11th Floor Board Room at Bar Association headquarters where ballot positions will be drawn.

About the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee manages and directs the business and activities of the YLD's approximate 3,000 members, including oversight of more than 30 committees in the areas of public service, law-related education and service to the legal community. In addition to the purposes of the YLD as stated in the By-Laws, being a member of the YLD Executive Committee gives lawyers in the early years of their careers opportunities for leadership, networking, personal growth and professional growth.

If you have any questions regarding the Nominating Petition, the Executive Committee, or the election process, please feel free to contact Tracey McCloskey, Director of Meetings & Special Events, at 215-238-6360 or tmccloskey@philabar.org.

REQUIRED FORMS: Nomination Petition | Personal Statement

TODAY: "So You Want to be Court-Appointed Counsel in Philadelphia" CLE

Today, Oct. 13, from 12:00-3:45 p.m., hear from a panel of highly-experienced criminal practitioners at "So You Want to be Court-Appointed Counsel in Philadelphia", a luncheon program worth 3.5 CLE credits.

Joined by members of the Philadelphia judiciary, panelists will guide new practitioners through the basics of Philadelphia Criminal practice and the details of the City's court-appointed counsel system. This introduction to practice in the Philadelphia criminal court system is designed to provide a step-by-step guide on how the criminal division is organized and how to maneuver through its courtrooms. Attorneys will receive specialized training in the current rules and regulations relating to criminal court appointments, as well as an introduction to the fee structure. A focus on unique ethical issues for court-appointed counsel will also be addressed.

The program is planned by Troy H. Wilson, Wilson & Wilson, LLP. Faculty consists of: Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper, Supervising Judge, Court of Common Pleas - Trial Division - Criminal First Judicial District; Neal M. Masciantonio, Law Offices of Neal M. Masciantonio; George H. Newman, Newman & Associates, P.C.; Sondra R. Rodrigues, Rodrigues Law Offices; Burton A. Rose, Burton A. Rose, Attorney at Law; Keith Smith, Director, Active Criminal Records Criminal Trial Division, First Judicial District Court of Common Pleas; Samuel C. Stretton, Law Office of Samuel C. Stretton; and Mingo L. Stroeber, Law Offices of M.L. Stroeber.

CLICK HERE for more details, pricing and to register. The program will be held at PBI's CLE Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building, 10th Floor, Ste. 1010.

Celebrate National Pro Bono Week, Oct. 26-30

Pro Bono Celebration Week honors the pro bono contribution of Philadelphia's lawyers and offers an occasion to learn more about the interesting and professionally challenging pro bono opportunities that exist with Philadelphia's public interest organizations.

Coordinated by the Public Interest Section's Delivery of Legal Services Committee and the Law School Outreach and Law Firm Pro Bono Committees of the Philadelphia Bar Association, Pro Bono Celebration Week is planned in collaboration with the ABA's National Pro Bono Celebration. The following is a list of Pro Bono Celebration Week activities:

Monday, Oct. 26

Chancellor's Forum on Prisoner Pro Bono Projects: 12 p.m., Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St. Lunch is $5.00. Register HERE.

Pro Bono Open House Fair: 5 p.m., Duane Morris LLP, 30 S. 17th St. To register contact Nicole Friant at anfriant@duanemorris.com.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Philadelphia VIP's Pro Bono Opportunities Day: Spotlight on Preventing Homelessness: A CLE training program; 8:30a.m. to 12:15p.m. at Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP, 123 S. Broad St., 28th Floor. Register at phillyvip.org. If you work at a firm with a VIP contact person, please register through that person. Deadline for registration is Monday, Oct. 19.

Homeless Advocacy Project Legal Clinic: 10-11 a.m., Krikbride/Traveler's Aid, 111 N. 49th St. Register with Marsha Cohen at marsha@philalegal.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 28

How to Handle a Child Abuse Case: A CLE training program from the Support Center for Child Advocates; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., The CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Building, 13th and Market streets, 10th floor. Register with PBI at 1-800-247-4724.

Homeless Advocacy Project Legal Clinic: 10 a.m., UHCH, Penn Center St. Agatha/St. James, 38th and Chestnut Sts. (SE corner) Register with Marsha Cohen at marsha@philalegal.org.

Thursday, Oct. 29

HelpLine Volunteer Training Program: A SeniorLAW Center training program; 11 a.m.. to 1 p.m., Fox Rothschild LLP, 2000 Market St., Register with Sue Wasserkrug at 215-701-3216 or swasserkrug@seniorlawcenter.org.

Homeless Advocacy Project Legal Clinic: 6-7 p.m., Eliza Shirley Shelter, 1320 Arch St.. Register with Marsha Cohen at marsha@philalegal.org.

Friday, Oct. 30

Pro Bono: Where Do We Go From Here: A Capstone CLE Forum; 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 34th and Chestnut streets. 3 CLE credits (pending approval). Register with Arlene Finkelstein at arfinkelstein@law.upenn.edu.

Personal Planning 101: Wills, Living Wills, and Powers of Attorney for Older Pennsylvanians: A SeniorLAW Center training program; 12 to 3 p.m., Duane Morris LLP, 30 S. 17th St. Register with Roxanne Crowley at rcrowley@seniorlawcenter.org.

Homeless Advocacy Project Legal Clinic: 1:45-2:45 p.m., St. John's Hospice, 1221 Race St. Register with Marsha Cohen at marsha@philalegal.org.

ABA Law Firm Marketing Strategies Conference, Nov. 12-13

On Nov. 12 and 13, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia, the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section will present the "ABA Law Firm Marketing Strategies Conference 2009", the nation’s most comprehensive two-day law firm marketing education program.

Attorneys, marketers and executives will hear from ABA's faculty of attorneys on how to differentiate themselves and their firms, including two keynote addresses from David Lat, Founding Editor of "Above the Law," speaking on image control, and John Osborn, President and CEO of BBDO, speaking on strategic branding.

Rates range from $795 to $995. Click here for more information and to register.

Pennsylvania Bar Association Holding 4th Annual Diversity Summit, Oct. 29

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Committee is holding its 4th Annual Diversity Summit on Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, PA. The theme for this year's Summit is "Banking on Diversity in Tough Economic Times."

The overall purpose of the Summit is to foster dialogue statewide about diversity and inclusion in all sectors of the legal community, as well as to encourage collaboration and an exchange of best practices among organizations involved in diversity efforts. A particular focus of the fourth Summit will be presentations by law firm managing partners and key leaders who will share their perspectives about diversity and inclusion.

Cliff Haines, the current President of the PBA, will give welcoming remarks and the keynote address will be delivered by Professor David Kairys of Temple University Beasley School of Law. The main program will be comprised of a series of panel discussions featuring representatives from the public and private sectors of the profession. Time has been built into the agenda for questions from the audience as well.

For more information, including the full agenda and registration form, CLICK HERE.

Four-Session Training Program for Attorneys Who Need to Develop New Business

A four-session Training Program for Attorneys Who Need to Develop New Business will be presented by the Training Resource Group in conjunction with the Bar Association on Nov. 13, Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. All sessions are 12-2 p.m. at Bar Association headquarters. The program is being offered again due to popular demand.

Developing new business and retaining existing clients during these very challenging times will require you to tap into skill sets for which you have not been trained. Have you, or the attorneys in your firm, been spending so much time servicing existing clients, that there has not been time to learn business development skills? Have you or the attorneys in your firm ever taken a class on how to become a rainmaker?

After completing the Program, participants will have the mindset, skills, and confidence to create an individual business development plan, successfully network and create strategic partnerships, better cross sell current clients and build account relationships at a higher level. The program will focus on teaching tactics and techniques that will help participants develop new opportunities, and turn those opportunities into new clients.

The program is designed for attorneys who are now expected to develop business for themselves or their firms. You or members from your firm should attend if you are concerned about producing new rainmakers for your firm, increasing your own practice, and developing an essential skill set that was never taught in law school.

To register for this course, contact 215-320-4650. Registration is $795 and includes attendance at all four sessions as well as an individual coaching session and materials. The first, Nov. 13, session will be an introduction to building a network for business development and designing a business plan.