Nominations for 2011 YLD Executive Committee Due NEXT WEDNESDAY

Only one week remains for those voting members interested in serving a 3-year term on the YLD Executive Committee to submit their nominations. The Nominating Petition can be found here and the Personal Statement form here. Answers to frequently asked questions about the YLD and the Executive Committee can be found here. This year's election takes place Dec. 7 and the nomination deadline is next Wednesday, Oct. 6. at 3 p.m.

Who can run? Each year, 7 new members are elected to the YLD Executive Committee. Any voting member of the Division is eligible for election provided that the term of office for which the individual runs shall not extend beyond his or her membership in the Division. A member is eligible if he/she is 36-years-old or less in the year 2013 (members "age out" on their 37th birthday) or, if he/she is older than 36, not celebrating more than his/her third year of practice in 2013 (members "age out" once they reach their third anniversary of admission to the Bar of any state).

The Nominating Petition and Personal Statement must be returned to the offices of the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor, no later than 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 6, 2010.

What does the Executive Committee do? 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. Being on the YLD Executive Committee also gives lawyers in the early years of their careers opportunities for leadership, networking, and personal 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 and Special Events, at 215-238-6360 or tmccloskey@philabar.org.

ONE WEEK AWAY: The National Economic Outlook: A YLD 20/20 Program

Dr. Jason Faberman, an economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, will present a national economic outlook with a review of the region at a Young Lawyers Division 20/20 program next Tuesday, October 5 at 12 p.m. at Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St., 11th Floor.

The program is free to attend. Lunch can purchased for $8.

To register for the program, CLICK HERE. Stay tuned for more details.

Dr. Faberman joined the Regional and Microeconomics Section of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's Research Department in 2007. Prior to that, he spent four years as a Research Economist with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington, DC. His research interests focus on the labor market, with an emphasis on the employment behavior of individual businesses and workers and its implications at the macro level, micro level, and across different geographic areas. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park and his B.A. and B.S. from Lehigh University.

Pro Bono Corner: An Unfamiliar Case Made Successful With Help From Philadelphia VIP

by Jacqueline Walsh

I saw Ms. Gloria Silva's* guardianship case in October 2009 while scrolling through Philadelphia VIP's case list. As a recent graduate from Villanova University School of Law, I sought to give back to the community and, although I was trained in the field of Health Care Law, I felt drawn to Ms. Silva's plight. I contacted Philadelphia VIP and accepted the case.

Ms. Silva is a native of Angola who frequently traveled back and forth, while balancing studying, teaching and caring for her 5 children as a single parent. In February of 2008, her sister, Maria, was visiting from Angola when she became ill and had to be hospitalized. She subsequently fell into a coma and was in and out of hospitals and nursing homes for two years. Her doctors felt that she needed constant supervision but she was denied access to care because of her lack of official status. An extension was granted for her visa in 2008, but had since expired and the results of the extension application were pending. Ms. Silva was fighting to gain guardianship over her sister to deal with Maria's immigration status and to make vital medical decisions for her. Furthermore, Maria did not have any source of income and needed to apply for medical and financial benefits.

I immediately met with Ms. Silva and started working the case, prompting Ms. Silva to exclaim how satisfied she was with the services provided by VIP and remark on how helpful she thought I was by always making sure to explain every step of the case to her thoroughly.

Even though I lacked experience with guardianship cases, thanks to VIP, I was given a mentor who guided me through the process. Furthermore, because I was a new attorney and did not have an office or resources of my own, VIP allowed me to use their office resources and supplied me with any additional help I needed.

In February of 2010, I convinced the judge to grant Ms. Silva plenary permanent guardianship of her sister. The judge ruled Maria as an incapacitated person and appointed Ms. Silva as her guardian. Ms Silva exclaimed, "I couldn’t believe it was going to workout that fast!" She felt she could never truly repay me in any equal manner. That didn't matter to me; helping Ms. Silva was the greatest feeling in the world and I'd definitely do it again.

I can't stress enough to new attorneys that taking pro bono cases is a great way to immerse yourself in any field of law. These type of cases are more of a personal experience and allow you to develop your interpersonal skills and gain court experience, benefits not always possible at a large firm. Furthermore, people believe in you and are there to help you. I know VIP was there for me when I needed them.

If you are interested in joining Philadelphia VIP as a volunteer attorney, please visit www.phillyvip.org or call 215-523-9550.

*Client's name has been changed to protect privacy.

YLD to Kick Off 2010 National Pro Bono Week with Spotlight on Pro Bono Program, Oct. 22; Events Schedule Now Available

The Young Lawyers Division will kick off National Pro Bono Week in Philadelphia on October 22 with "YLD Spotlight on Pro Bono," a free program co-hosted by the Delivery of Legal Services Committee and open to all attorneys interested in learning more about how to get involved in pro bono work and ways to balance these efforts with their professional careers.

The full schedule of events for the week can be found here.

The program will feature a panel of young lawyers sharing their experiences and lessons learned as pro bono volunteers. Presenters currently include Aisha Barbour of Ballard Spahr, Andy Boczkowski of GlaxoSmithKline, Michele L. Purdue-Dean, a solo practitioner, Rebecca Santoro of Hangley Aronchick Segal and Pudlin, and Matt Olesh of Fox Rothschild LLP. Bar Association Vice-Chancellor John Savoth will give opening remarks and a question-and-answer session with the audience will follow the presentation.

YLD Spotlight on Pro Bono will begin at 12 p.m. in the 11th Floor Conference Center at Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Attendance is free but pre-registration is requested. Lunch is also available for $8. CLICK HERE to register.

Register Now for Bench-Bar 2010 at The Borgata

Online registration for the 2010 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference at the Borgata in Atlantic City, Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16, is available until Wednesday, Oct. 13. Register now! The event features 14 CLEs and a Grand Reception at newly-remodeled MIXX nightclub. YLD member costs remain at 2007 prices.

The 14 CLE programs, in which attendees can earn up to eight hours of credit (including the opportunity to earn two ethics credits), will feature judges and some of the city's most well-known practitioners, who will use their expertise and experience to enlighten attendees.

A dramatic re-enactment commemorating the 275th anniversary of Andrew Hamilton's historic 1735 defense of printer John Peter Zenger will be offered for CLE credit as the opening program on Oct. 15. The case established the concept of freedom of the press and coined the term "Philadelphia lawyer."

A state-of-the-court program will also be offered for CLE credit as the closing program on Saturday, Oct. 16. Vice Chancellor John E. Savoth and Board of Governors Vice Chair Regina M. Foley are co-chairs of the 2010 conference.

Full-conference admission is $429 for members and $479 for non-members. For members of the Young Lawyers Division and government and public interest attorneys, admission is only $279. CLICK HERE for a complete registration form and pricing guide.

Sponsors for the 2010 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference include USI Affinity, LexisNexis, Iron Mountain, TD Bank, and Kaplan, Leaman and Wolfe Court Reporters. For information on becoming a sponsor, contact Michael Petitti at 215-238-6342 or mpetitti@philabar.org.