Volunteers Needed for Mock Trial Program

It is once again time for the John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition and we need your help to make this year another success. The Young Lawyers Division and Temple University Beasley School of Law team up each year to host this competition. Each spring students from approximately 40 public, private, and parochial schools are given the opportunity to play the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictitious criminal or civil case, focusing on real legal issues.

We hope that you will join us for an experience that is rewarding for both our volunteer judges and our students. You can sign up to judge as many trials as you would like and each trial will require a 2-3 hour time commitment.

Please pass this information along to your friends and colleagues. You can direct any questions to Kristy Littman at littmanak@sec.gov or Jim Nixon at james.nixon@pacourts.us. Click here for more information.

School Superintendent Hite is March 11 Speaker

Dr. William R. Hite Jr., superintendent of The School District of Philadelphia, will be the keynote speaker at the Association’s Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, March 11.

Dr. Hite's remarks go along with Chancellor William P. Fedullo's focus on public education this year. Fedullo has created an Education Task Force to begin finding more ways that the legal community can help public education in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania. The Chancellor also has plans for a number of programs so Association members can learn about what is needed for a quality education for students.

Also at the event, the Association will present the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award. The award publicly acknowledges, recognizes and honors an individual or entity that has demonstrated a strong commitment, and has made substantial contributions to diversity and promoting full and equal participation and inclusion in the legal profession.

Immediate-Past Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson will be honored at the event. She will be presented with a gold box, a replica of the one presented to Andrew Hamilton for his defense of John Peter Zenger in 1735. The gold box is presented annually to the immediate-past Chancellor and is inscribed with the message "acquired not by money, but by character."

The March 11 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon begins at 12 p.m. at the Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets. Tickets are $65 for Philadelphia Bar Association members and $75 for non-members. Purchase tickets at philadelphiabar.org by Thursday, March 6. Cancellations must be received by March 6 to receive a full refund.

Discounted Tickets for Please Touch Museum, 76ers

Philadelphia Bar Association members can take advantage of specially discounted tickets at two Philadelphia institutions – the Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia 76ers - for a day out with the family or a night out with friends and colleagues.

To get in on the fun and excitement, just visit the Bar Association's Member Benefits page to purchase tickets.

Please Touch Museum was named one of the top 10 children's museums in the country by Parents magazine and is the perfect attraction for families with young children. Adults will enjoy our Centennial Tours of Memorial Hall, complete with historical background of the national landmark and 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

Purchases are available from one to nine tickets for the 76ers. For groups of 10 tickets or more, contact Danielle Balliet at 215-952-7351 or danielleballiet@sixers.com. There are no service fees for mailing tickets, will call, or print at home. Most games are available.

SABA to Host Evening with Preet Bharara March 4

The South Asian Bar Association of Philadelphia presents "An Evening with Preet Bharara" at the National Constitution Center on Tuesday, March 4. Bharara is the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009.

Since his appointment to the office, Bharara has overseen the investigation and litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the United States in the Southern District of New York. The office's 210 Assistant U.S. Attorneys handle a high volume of cases involving domestic and international terrorism, narcotics and arms trafficking, financial and healthcare fraud, public corruption, gang violence, organized crime, and civil rights violations.

Bharara recently made headlines for indicting the Indian diplomat, Devyani Khobragade, and charging two Bitcoin executives for conspiring to commit money laundering. Bharara will address the topic of business ethics, and the event promises to be a one of-a-kind opportunity to hear about the renewed focus on large-scale, sophisticated financial frauds from the voices on the front line. Introductory remarks will be given by Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. A cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m. and the first 75 guests will receive a free drink ticket. The program will begin at 7 p.m. following the cocktail reception. Discounted parking will be available at the National Constitution Center. Space will be limited, therefore attendees are encouraged to RSVP early. Click here to RSVP.

Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Training Program March 14

The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program needs the investment of many pro bono attorneys to help clients negotiate affordable loan modifications, payment arrangements, or otherwise resolve clients' mortgage foreclosure cases.

Volunteer attorneys are asked to put their negotiation skills to work; litigating the mortgage foreclosure case is not expected of volunteers. Volunteers need NO experience in mortgage foreclosure law to participate. A training will be held Friday, March 14 at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller One Logan Square, 18th & Cherry streets, 27th Floor.

Volunteers will receive a total of 2.5 free substantive CLE credits in exchange for providing ongoing representation for two different clients in the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program or for representing three clients as a temporary solution or emergency volunteer. Click here to register.

Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Training Program March 14

The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program needs the investment of many pro bono attorneys to help clients negotiate affordable loan modifications, payment arrangements, or otherwise resolve clients' mortgage foreclosure cases.

Volunteer attorneys are asked to put their negotiation skills to work; litigating the mortgage foreclosure case is not expected of volunteers. Volunteers need NO experience in mortgage foreclosure law to participate. A training will be held Friday, March 14 at Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller One Logan Square, 18th & Cherry streets, 27th Floor.

Volunteers will receive a total of 2.5 free substantive CLE credits in exchange for providing ongoing representation for two different clients in the Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program or for representing three clients as a temporary solution or emergency volunteer. Click here to register.