October 27, 2009

TODAY BY 3 P.M.: Deadline for Nominations for YLD Executive Committee Posts

Today, Oct. 27, is the final day nominations will be accepted for YLD Executive Committee posts. Nominations must arrive at Bar Association headquarters by 3 p.m.. This year's Election will take place on December 8 in conjunction with the Bar Association's Annual Meeting. CLICK FOR DETAILS, NOMINATION FORMS

Litigating More Effectively Using Technology, Nov. 16

On Nov. 16 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., the YLD will present Litigating More Effectively Using Technology, a 1 substantive credit CLE co-sponsored by the Technology Committee and featuring the President and Vice President of James DeCrescenzo Reporting LLC, Trial Technologies Inc. READ MORE

YLD Holiday Party, Dec. 3; Register Now!

Registration is now open for the YLD's annual Holiday Party, Dec. 3 at Tavern on Broad. Pricing is as follows: $35 for non-members; $30 for members; and $25 for law students. Register now for this always popular event.

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TODAY BY 3 P.M.: Deadline for Nominations for YLD Executive Committee Posts

Today, Oct. 27, is the final day nominations will be accepted for YLD Executive Committee posts. Nominations must arrive at Bar Association headquarters by 3 p.m.. This year's Election will take place on December 8 in conjunction with the Bar Association's Annual Meeting. CLICK FOR DETAILS, NOMINATION FORMS

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. today, October 27, 2009.

At 5:00 p.m. 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

Litigating More Effectively Using Technology CLE, Nov. 16

On Nov. 16 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., the YLD will present Litigating More Effectively Using Technology, a 1 substantive credit CLE co-sponsored by the Technology Committee and featuring the President and Vice President of James DeCrescenzo Reporting LLC, Trial Technologies Inc.

The future of litigation is here, and it is firmly grounded in technology. This course will teach you how use it to win your cases:

-Maximize the use of deposition testimony by making clips from deposition transcripts with synchronized audio and video depositions synchronized with transcripts.

-Use SMART Boards and scanned documents while deposing witnesses allowing you to create SuperDepositionsTM with a picture-in-picture presentation.

-Use technology during your settlement negotiations to increase your odds of settling for a favorable amount.

-Win over juries using computer generated exhibits such as 3D animations, interactive timelines and Fetal Strip Presentations.

-Utilize mock juries and Perception Analyzer Technology to test your trial strategies and help you make needed adjustments to your presentation before the final run at trial.

Featured panelists are James DeCrescenzo, Founder and President, James DeCrescenzo Reporting, LLC, Trial Technologies, Inc. and Vice President Debra Aisenstein, Esq.

The program has been approved for 1.0 Substantive CLE credit. Participants wishing to receive the CLE credit will be required to pay a fee of $38.50 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for more than five years, and $33.50 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for less than five years. Tuition price includes lunch. If you wish to register in advance CLICK HERE or call 1-800-932-4637.

Volunteers and Items Sought for 2009 Harvest for the Homeless, Nov. 14

The YLD is seeking volunteers for the annual "Harvest for the Homeless" program, Nov. 14 at Ballard Spahr. We'll be collecting and sorting donations of mens', womens' and childrens' clothing, as well as non-perishable items. Once the items are sorted, we'll deliver them to local homeless shelters.

To date, the following firms have agreed to participate:

Feldman Shepherd

Post and Schell

Senior Law Center

Stradley Ronan Stevens & Young

Ciardi Ciardi & Astin

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis

Ballard Spahr

Rawle & Henderson

Petrelli Law

Reger Rizzo & Darnall

We're looking for volunteers to assist with managing and collecting donations at their firms. We'll also need volunteers on the day of the event to help with sorting and distributing the donated items.

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Carey Chopko at cchopko@feldmanshepherd.com or Joe Guzzardo at jguzzardo@regerlaw.com.

THIS WEEK: National Pro Bono Week, Oct. 26-30

Starting yesterday and running until this Friday, 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.

Today, 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. The prograsm features CLE training sessions on mortgage foreclosure, public housing and quiet title. The fee is $45 for course materials and breakfsat; two free substantive CLE credits are available in exchange for handling a pro bono case within six months of the training. Register at phillyvip.org. If you work at a firm with a VIP contact person, please register through that person.

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. Six CLE credits, including one ethics credit, are available. Register with PBI at 1-800-247-4724.

Homeless Advocacy Project Legal Clinic: 6 to 7 p.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. Two free CLE credits anticipated for volunteers. 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 12:30 p.m., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 34th and Chestnut streets. 3 CLE credits (pending approval). The fee is $25 for public interest attorneys and $30 for all others (includes lunch). 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. Three free CLE credits are available in exchange for handling a case. Register with Roxanne Crowley at rcrowley@seniorlawcenter.org.

Homeless Advocacy Project Legal Clinic: 1:45-3:00 p.m., St. John's Hospice, 1221 Race St. Register with Marsha Cohen at marsha@philalegal.org.

Volunteers Needed for 2009 Mock Trial Camp, Nov. 7, and as Judges for 2010 Competition

by Joshu Harris

The 2009-10 high school mock trial season, easily the biggest in Philadelphia history, is already under way. Not only will Philadelphia proudly host the national high school mock trial championships for the first time this spring, citywide competition and programming has greatly expanded.

With this year's statewide competition materials about to be released, the YLD and Temple University Beasley School of Law's LEAP Institute are busy matching lawyer coaches with new teams and preparing the annual daylong mock trial camp.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, more than 100 students and dozens of lawyers will come together to officially kick off the mock trial season with a full day of lectures and small-group sessions in trial advocacy. And in January and February, the citywide John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition will take place at Temple and the Criminal Justice Center. This year is expected to feature the largest field of competitors in Philadelphia history.

Given the unprecedented scope of this mock trial season, the YLD and Temple Law's LEAP Institute welcome volunteer participation by all members of the bar. Volunteers may commit as little as a few hours at a time and will leave impressed by the students and rewarded by the volunteering experience.

Volunteer coaches and instructors are needed for the Nov. 7 camp, as well as volunteer judges. Camp instructors will set aside the full day of Nov. 7 to lead small group sessions that will apply trial advocacy concepts introduced in brief lectures. Coaches will typically meet about once a week with their teams, either on a weekday afternoon or weekend day.

Volunteer judges will commit to judge a three-hour round of competition during a weekday, weeknight or weekend between Jan. 25, 2010 and Feb. 27, 2010. Judges can choose to judge as many rounds as schedules permit and judges do not need trial experience to participate. All volunteers need is a willingness to give some time and be wowed by the high school students.

Those interested in volunteering can contact me, Paul Kaufman or Kristina Littman. A dedicated website will soon be launched for volunteer sign-ups as well so stay tuned.

Joshu Harris (joshu.harris@phila.gov) is an assistant district attorney and co-chair of the Young Lawyers Division’s Mock Trial Committee.

THURSDAY: Pennsylvania Bar Association Holding 4th Annual Diversity Summit

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Minority Committee is holding its 4th Annual Diversity Summit this 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.

TOMORROW: Partnering for Career Success

Tomorrow, Oct. 28 from 12:15-2 p.m., the Attorney Career Development Committee will present "Partnering for Career Success" at Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St., 10th Floor.

Have you thought how much easier it would be to make great first impressions on employers and clients if you had a partner or small group offering you advice, feedback and help presenting yourself to key decision-makers?

"Speed Intros" and "Action Exercises" will help you connect with the partner best for you. Leading this event is Arthur Bousel, founder of Lawyer 2 Lawyer Career Management, which helps attorneys contribute greater value to employers and clients.

The event is free (lunch is optional for $8). CLICK HERE to register.

THURSDAY: 14th Annual Bankruptcy Institute

This Thursday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Pennsylvania Bar Institute will present the 14th Annual Bankruptcy Institute, a program featuring topics, speakers and updates on recent developments in bankruptcy law.

Hear from judges, specialized practitioners, and representatives of the U.S. Trustees Office, as well as your local Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 Trustees. New this year will be basic level consumer bankruptcy topics for those who are new to bankruptcy or just need to brush up on the basics of bankruptcy law.

Hear from the Judges:

From the US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania:

Honorable Stephen Raslavich, Chief Judge
Honorable Richard E. Fehling
Honorable Jean K. FitzSimon
Honorable Eric L. Frank

From the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware:

Honorable Kevin J. Carey, Chief Judge
Honorable Brendan L. Shannon

From the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey:

Honorable Rosemary Gambardella

In these times of economic turmoil, business failures, and uncertain future, this program is more important than ever to your practice!

CLICK HERE to register.

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