YLD Seeks Performers for June 4
Talent Show at World Cafe Live

The Young Lawyers Division is looking for lawyers with a secret talent. Musicians, bands, comedians, dancers, magicians, poets, impressionists and other performers are needed for the YLD Talent Show on June 4 at World Cafe Live...READ MORE

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Candidates Forum March 19

Several of the candidates seeking election to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will participate in Decision 2015, an interactive forum hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Association, on Thursday, March 19 at 12 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Conference Center....READ MORE

Effective Nonprofits and Board Promising Practices March 25

Are you serving on a nonprofit board or considering it? Come learn what an attorney acting as a board member needs to understand about his or her legal and fiduciary duties and how to effectively advance the organization's goals and mission on Wednesday, March 25 at the Young Lawyers Division Live, Lunch and Learn program...READ MORE

O'Connor Award Nomination Deadline March 30

The Women in the Profession Committee is seeking nominations for the 2015 Sandra Day O'Connor Award. Deadline for nominations is Monday, March 30. Click here for the nomination form. The award is conferred annually on a woman attorney who has demonstrated superior legal talent, achieved significant legal accomplishments and has furthered the advancement of women in both the profession and the community. Please send nominations to the attention of: Dawn Petit, Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St., 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107 or by email to dpetit@philabar.org.

Due Diligence in Business Transactions March 6

Get a comprehensive review of due diligence essentials, including important tips to help you cover all of the bases at PBI's "Due Diligence in Business Transactions" on Friday, March 6. The program, co-sponsored by the Business Law Section, will be held from 12 to 4:15 p.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th Floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets. Lunch is included. A total of 4 CLE credits are available, one of which may be applied toward ethics. Click here to register.

Meet the Judges March 3

Hosted by Temple University Beasley School of Law's Philadelphia Legal Network invites the legal community to a Meet the Judges program on Tuesday, March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall Library. RSVPs are recommended (but not required) by Feb. 28 to PLNTemple@gmail.com. For more information, contact Cassandra Taylor at Cassandra.Taylor@temple.edu.




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YLD Seeks Performers for June 4 Talent Show

The Young Lawyers Division is looking for lawyers with a secret talent. Musicians, bands, comedians, dancers, magicians, poets, impressionists and other performers are needed for the YLD Talent Show on June 4 at World Cafe Live.

Space is limited to 10 performers and each performance must be five minutes or less. Candidates are asked to provide a brief description of their performance and must be available between the hours of 5 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, June 4. Each performer must provide their own equipment. Microphones will be provided.

Candidates can send submissions to Tracey McMcCloskey at tmccloskey@philabar.org. The deadline for submissions is Monday, March 9. Candidates will be notified by March 16 if they have been selected to perform. The YLD Talent Show will benefit the Philadelphia Bar Foundation.

Melber to Speak March 10; Diversity Award to Judge Diaz

Ari Melber, a lawyer and a co-host of MSNBC's "The Cycle," will be the keynote speaker at the Philadelphia Bar Association's Tuesday, March 10 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon. Judge Nelson A. Diaz, a partner at Dilworth Paxson LLP, will receive the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award at the event. Visit philadelphiabar.org to purchase tickets.

The Sotomayor Award publicly acknowledges, recognizes and honors an individual or entity that has demonstrated a strong commitment, and has made a substantial contribution, to diversity and promoting full and equal participation and inclusion in the legal profession.

Judge Diaz served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1981 through 1993. He was the youngest judge elected to the court and the first Latino judge in Pennsylvania history. He also served as the city solicitor of Philadelphia and was appointed by President Clinton to be the general counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he focused on reforming public and mixed-use housing programs. He is also chair of Dilworth Paxson’s diversity committee.

Melber also writes about law and politics for MSNBC.com and other publications. Melber anchors and writes an MSNBC series on inequities in the criminal justice system, Presumed Guilty, and he is a guest host for MSNBC shows such as "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell," "The Rachel Maddow Show" and "All In with Chris Hayes."

Melber also is a correspondent for The Nation magazine, the oldest political weekly in America, a contributor to Reuters, and his writing has been published by many major media outlets.

Immediate-Past Chancellor William P. Fedullo will be honored at the event. He 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."

Additionally, The Justinian Society and the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society Foundation will present the Lifetime Achievement Award in Memory of Marvin Comisky and Judge G. Fred DiBona to Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The award is presented to an outstanding member of the bench or bar who acts as a superb mentor and advisor to clients, the Bar, the judicial system and/or the community; makes a difference in the lives of others irrespective of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation; demonstrates a willingness to do what is right although sometimes unpopular; demonstrates legal acumen or scholarship; and exhibits great humility.

The March Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon begins at 12 p.m. at the Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets. Tickets are $65 for members; $55 for YLD members, public interest and government members; $25 for law student members; and $75 for non-members. Visit philadelphiabar.org to purchase tickets.

Law Firm Laboratory: Vetting Expert Witnesses Feb. 26

Several years ago, defense counsel won a jury verdict for its client in a state court action in Arizona. However, after the jury had rendered its verdict, the judge discovered that the defense expert had lied about his qualifications. The judge not only ordered a new trial but also sanctioned the defendant more than $500,000. This is but one example of why attorneys today need to investigate not only opposing counsel's experts but their own.

Join us for a fast-paced and revealing presentation on Thursday, Feb. 26 addressing how to use online resources to investigate experts. Even if you are not the one who actually conducts the research, just knowing what resources are available may help you to be better prepared in vetting your own experts and finding damaging information about the opposition's.

The presentation will be conducted by Caren R. Silverman, Esq., Client Relations Specialist for LexisNexis. In her role, Silverman not only monitors the legal industry to identify trends and potential future developments but also consults with law firms and corporations across the country to discuss their challenges and needs. In her 17 years with LexisNexis, she has conducted more than 500 presentations.

Silverman received her B.A. from Penn State University and her J.D. (cum laude) from Temple University Beasley School of Law. Prior to joining LexisNexis, she was a litigator for more than three years with Goldfein & Joseph in Philadelphia.

The program, sponsored by LexisNexis, begins at 12 p.m. in the 11th Floor Conference at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St. There is no cost to attend this program. Lunch is available for purchase to those who register in advance. The cost of lunch is $9 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and $12 for non-members. Click here to register.

Effective Nonprofits and Board Promising Practices March 25

Are you serving on a nonprofit board or considering it? Come learn what an attorney acting as a board member needs to understand about his or her legal and fiduciary duties and how to effectively advance the organization's goals and mission on Wednesday, March 25 at the Young Lawyers Division Live, Lunch and Learn program.

Attendees may learn the special issues facing lawyers who serve as board members, as well as the best practices to improve board performance and productivity. Fernando Chang-Muy, Thomas O'Boyle Lecturer at University of Pennsylvania School of Law, is the featured speaker.

The program has been approved for 1 substantive CLE credit. Participants wishing to receive the CLE credit will be required to pay a fee of $25 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for more than five years and $20 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association admitted for less than five years. Click here to register for CLE credit.

Lunch and registration begin at 12 p.m. in the 11th Floor Conference at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $9 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and $12 for non-members. Click here to register for lunch.

Supreme Court Candidates Forum March 19

Several of the candidates seeking election to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will participate in Decision 2015, an interactive forum hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Association, on Thursday, March 19 at 12 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Conference Center. Click here to register.

Decision 2015 will be a 90-minute moderated forum, during which candidates will be asked to make a statement about why they seek election to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, followed by a question-and-answer opportunity with members of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Panelists who have confirmed their participation in the forum include:

• Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen, Superior Court, Allegheny County
• Judge Christine L. Donohue, Superior Court, Allegheny County
• Judge Kevin M. Dougherty, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia
• Judge John H. Foradora, Court of Common Pleas, Jefferson County
• Judge Michael George, Court of Common Pleas, Adams County
• Judge Anne E. Lazarus, Superior Court, Philadelphia
• Judge Judith Ference Olson, Superior Court, Allegheny County
• Justice Correale F. Stevens, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Judge David N. Wecht, Superior Court, Allegheny County
• Judge Dwayne D. Woodruff, Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County

The program will be moderated by Carl A. Solano, a partner at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP and co-chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Appellate Courts Committee. Chancellor Albert S. Dandridge III will offer welcoming remarks at the event, which begins at 12 p.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th Floor of the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets.

There is no cost to attend this program. However, advance registration is required. Lunch is available for $15 for those who register in advance. Click here to register.

Making Justice for All a Reality Feb. 24

Three dynamic women will discuss the right to counsel movement and local work to increase access to justice and the impact that Civil Gideon could have on the Philadelphia community at the Tuesday, 24 meeting of the Women in the Profession Committee.

Speakers for the program are Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas President Judge Sheila Woods-Skipper; Cathy Carr, executive director, Community Legal Services; and Molly Callahan, legal center director, Women Against Abuse.

The program begins at 12 p.m. in the 10th Floor Board Room at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $9 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and $12 for non-members. Cancellations require 24 hours notice. Click here to register.

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