YLDEZine.081208

August 12, 2008

Bench-Bar and Annual Conference Early Registration Ends Friday

Registration is now open for the Association's 2008 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference on Sept. 19-21 at Bally's Atlantic City.

This year's conference is expected to bring together more than 500 lawyers and judges from the Philadelphia area for three days of CLE programming that lets practitioners and the judiciary share ideas and best practices. The theme of this year's conference is "The Sound of Philadelphia."

Registration for the full three days of the conference is $549 for those members who register by Aug. 15. That rate includes all meals and CLE. For public interest attorneys, government attorneys and members of the Young Lawyers Division who register by Aug. 15, the full conference registration fee is $399. Other one-day and two-day registration packages are available. For those prices, visit philadelphiabar.org.

Save the Date for PhiLAWpalooza on Oct. 2

Join the YLD for PhiLAWpalooza on Thursday, Oct. 2, as attorney musicians play at the legendary JC Dobbs on South Street.

If you are an attorney musician and are interested in performing at PhiLAWpalooza, please contact Stephanie Mensing. Registration information will be coming shortly.

Crime and Punishment Chancellor's Forum Sept. 10

District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham and Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey will be among the panelists for the Wednesday, Sept. 10 Chancellor's Forum "Crime and Punishment: The Philadelphia Story."

Abraham and Ramsey will be joined by Everett Gillison, deputy mayor for public safety; Mark Harrell of Men United for a Better Philadelphia; and David Rudovsky, senior fellow at University of Pennsylvania Law School. The panel will be moderated by Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Chris Satullo.

The panel will discuss the problems and challenges surrounding the issue of crime and punishment in Philadelphia and the ways in which community and civil rights groups can work with law enforcement to reduce crime in the city.

The program begins at 12:15 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Registration begins at 11:45 a.m. There is no charge for lunch, but registration is required. Click here to RSVP for this program.

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Phelps as Good as Gold

by Jeff Lyons

In this month's column, Jeff discusses Olympic phenom Michael Phelps, the Phils loss and the Eagles. Read more...

Chancellor Elect Sayde J. Ladov, former Chancellor Audrey C. Talley and Amy Ginensky, president-elect of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, meet with members of the Women in the Profession Committee on July 29.

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"Attacking the Expert's Opinion" CLE Program on August 8

Join the Pennsylvania Bar Institute at the CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Bldg., 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Lunch is included with the cost of tuitiion.

This CLE features Robert Musante, the country's foremost teacher of deposition cross-examination skills. For more information or to register, please call 1.800.932.4637 or visit PBI’s website.

Volunteer for YLD Law School Outreach

The YLD Law School Outreach Program will be held on Tuesday, August 19 at Drexel College of Law, Bhrakis Hall, from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

For additional information, please contact Joan Clarke at Booth & Tucker, LLP at 215-875-0609.

"Trial of a Felony Case" CLE on August 13

Join PBI tomorrow for "Trial of a Felony Case" featuring President Judge C. Darnell Jones II presiding over the jury. The course begins at 9 a.m. at the CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Building, 10th Floor.

Registration is available at pbi.org.

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Bench-Bar Annual Conference Early Registration Ends Aug. 15

Registration is now open for the Association's 2008 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference on Sept. 19-21 at Bally's Atlantic City.

Registration for the full three days of the conference is $629 and includes all meals and CLE. For public interest attorneys, government attorneys and members of the Young Lawyers Division, the full conference registration fee is $479. Other one-day and two-day registration packages are available. For those prices, visit philadelphiabar.org.

Bally's Atlantic City offers a world-class spa, salon, fitness center and 18 restaurants to meet every craving. Experience the Old West at Bally's Wild Wild West Casino with nearly 74,000 feet of gaming accessible via a short walkway connected to Bally's.

Bally's is now accepting hotel reservations for attendees. Book early for the best rates: rooms on Thursday, Sept. 18 are $99; rooms Friday, Sept. 19 are $144, and Saturday, Sept. 20 rooms range from $189 to $209. A limited number of rooms are available for the $189 rate on Saturday night. Call 1-800-345-7253 for reservations and mention you are attending the Philadelphia Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference to get these special room rates.

Phelps as Good as Gold by Jeff Lyons

Talking the talk is one thing. Walking the walk – or swim – is something completely different.

Alain Bernard was doing his share of trash talking before Monday’s 4x100 freestyle relay. He said his French team would “smash” the American men and take the gold. Yeah, not so much.

In one of the most thrilling races in Olympic history, American anchor Jason Lezak slid past Bernard to beat the French by .08 seconds for the gold. While Lezak and teammates Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones and Garrett Weber-Gale celebrated wildly – with Jones nearly falling into the pool – the bewildered French looked on, trying to figure out what happened.

Last night, Phelps won his third gold medal of the Beijing games (the ninth of his career) and he goes for two more tonight. His next gold medal will make him the most decorated Olympian in history.

I like going to the pool as much as the next guy. I've never been much of a swimming fan, though. These Olympics have changed my mind. Phelps is one of those athletes that comes along once in a lifetime. He's shattering world records and being a nice guy while doing it. It's a treat to watch him and watch history unfold with my family.

The Eagles did right by Brian Westbrook. Coach Andy Reid and team president Joe Banner aren't usually fond of reworking contracts for players. But they did the right thing when they extended Westbrook for three years. The contract reportedly guarantees Westbrook $13 million over the next two years. Westbrook IS the Eagles offense. He's one of the most dominant players in the NFL. He led the league with 2,104 yards from scrimmage last season, which including rushing for more than 1,000 yards and catching 90 passes. Not bad for a third-round pick out of Villanova.

Cornerback Lito Sheppard remains unhappy with his situation. He wants to be traded. It says here the Eagles should hang onto him, unless some team wants to throw a number-one receiver Philadelphia's way. Depth wins football games in the NFL, and with Sheppard, Assante Samuel and Sheldon Brown, the Eagles have one of the deepest defensive secondaries in the game.

I stayed up to watch the Phillies after I watched Phelps win his gold last night. I should've gone to bed right after the pool. Kyle Kendrick got shelled and the Phillies lost a golden opportunity (I'm in an Olympic frame of mind) to increase their lead over the Mets and Marlins. At least they didn’t lose any ground. But I did take pleasure in watching the Mets bullpen implode yet again, this time against the Pirates on Monday afternoon.

Cole Hamels, winless in his last six appearances for the Phils, gets the start tonight. The Phillies haven't scored much when Hamels has pitched of late, so I think it's time for a little small ball. I'd love to see Jimmy Rollins lead off the game with a bunt single and steal second. Shane Victorino then moves him to third with a ground ball to the right side and Rollins then scores on a double by Chase Utley. If only it were that easy. If there's one pitcher you want to get runs for, it's Hamels.

Jeff Lyons, senior managing editor of the Philadelphia Bar Reporter and Bar Reporter Online, is a fanatical Philadelphia sports fan. His e-mail address is jlyons@philabar.org.