Application Period Open for 2016 Board Observer Program

The Board Observer Program (BOP) is a partnership between the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, the Delivery of Legal Services Committee and the Young Lawyers Division. The BOP gives young attorneys practicing in Philadelphia County the opportunity to learn more about local legal services organizations and other nonprofits, and to gain the leadership skills necessary to serve on the boards of such organizations as well as succeed in their future careers.

The application period is open for young attorneys to apply to be board observers for 2016. Applications are due by Sept. 25, 2015. For more information and to download the application, click here.

Message From the Chancellor: Clemency Project 2014 Seeks Volunteers

As Philadelphia lawyers, the Philadelphia Bar Association asks for your assistance with Clemency Project 2014. Clemency Project 2014 is a working group made up of the American Bar Association, The American Civil Liberties Union, Families Against Mandatory Minimums, Federal Public and Community Defenders and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Fortunately, in recent years there have been changes in the law and charging policies that have relaxed some of the harshest sentencing practices. However, many of these changes are not available to those who were sentenced prior to recent reforms. And that is where the Obama administration's clemency initiative comes into play. The President's clemency initiative presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to reverse the ravages of harsh sentencing policies that have ruined the lives of thousands of non-violent offenders and their families. Through the efforts of Clemency Project 2014, the participating organizations are identifying petitioners who appear to meet the criteria outlined by the Department of Justice and recruiting and training volunteers to assist them in securing clemency. There are countless inmates who can benefit from this program, but they need lawyers to help. And they need lawyers now.

For more information on volunteering, click here.

Summer-Long School Supply Drive

As part of Chancellor Albert S. Dandridge III's Boots on the Ground Community Initiative, the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) is continuing the school supply drive launched at the June 9 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon. Donations will benefit Turning Points for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families in raising safe, healthy, educated and strong children.

Members are encouraged to donate new school supplies at donation drop-off points at the following firms up until Aug. 13:

• Fox Rothschild LLP - 2000 Market St., 20th Floor
• Margolis Edelstein - The Curtis Center, 170 S. Independence Mall W., Suite 400E
• Mincey & Fitzpatrick, LLC - Two Penn Center, 1500 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1525
• Rawle & Henderson, LLP - The Widener Building, 1339 Chestnut St., 16th Floor

Supplies Needed:

• Books
• Brain Games
• Calculators
• Construction Paper
• Highlighters
• Lunch Boxes/Bags
• Marble Notebooks
• Markers
• Math Activities
• Pens in Blue/Black and Red Ink
• Planners or Agendas
• Protractors
• Sharpened Pencils, Erasers and Rulers
• Small Ruler and Pencil Cases

The summer-long school supply drive will culminate at the YLD happy hour at Tavern on Broad, 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia on Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Structuring and Drafting Commercial Loan Documents July 28

Remember the days when commercial loans were a cinch to negotiate and secure? Well, those days are gone.

Borrowers must meet more stringent conditions in order to secure a loan. Lenders are hanging onto their dollars longer and caps have come down. The name of the game today is “risk reduction,” and it is critical that today’s transactional attorney understands the interplay between all parties, and the legal and financial requirements in place to close a deal. This program brings it all together—from early negotiation to signing on the dotted line.

This 4 CLE credit program will be held in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, July 28 at PBI Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets, 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.; check-in begins at 8 a.m. Lunch is included. For additional information, or to register click here.

Paralegal Day Celebration July 29

Gov. Tom Wolf has proclaimed July 27-31, 2015, as Paralegal Week and July 31, 2015, as Paralegal Day in the Commonwealth.

To mark the occasion, the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals invites all of its members and members of other paralegal associations to a Paralegal Day Celebration. The celebration will be held on Wednesday, July 29, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., at the Pyramid Club, 1735 Market St., Philadelphia. The celebration, sponsored by Kaplan Leaman & Wolfe Court Reporters & Litigation Support, will feature food, a magician and prizes.

To RSVP, please email PhilaParalegals@gmail.com.

Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace: Avoiding Baby Bump Blunders July 29

Learn what the pregnancy discrimination laws do and do not require from employers. Get advice on how to handle job modification requests, leave requests and reinstatement to better understand how to reduce your clients' legal risks.

Pregnancy discrimination has received a good deal of attention recently from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Employers need to be aware of the obligations imposed on them by the EEOC's new guidance. Here is your opportunity to make sure your clients are in tune with the latest developments.

This 3 CLE credit program will be held in Philadelphia, on Friday, July 29 at PBI Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets, 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.; check-in begins at 8:30 a.m. For additional information or to register, click here.

4th Annual JLC Quizzo Fundraiser July 30

Juvenile Law Center will host its 4th Annual Quizzo fundraiser at Fergie's Pub, at 1214 Sansom St., in Philadelphia on July 30 from 5:30-8 p.m. Teams of 3-8 people will compete in a fun, fast-paced game of Quizzo! The first-place team will win $100 off its tab, and the second team will have $50 of its tab covered. Exciting prizes will be raffled off throughout the evening.

The cost of the event is $20 per person. Register by July 29 online at www.jlc.org.

AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania 16th Annual Summer Movie Party July 31

On Friday, July 31, the AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania will host its 16th Annual Summer Movie Party at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St., Philadelphia. The party begins at 6 p.m., and the film, "Hot Rods to Hell," will be screened at 7:30 p.m.

For ticket and sponsorship information, visit http://www.aidslawpa.org/.

Public Speaking for Lawyers, Featuring John Savoth Aug. 6

The art of public speaking is a critical component of a practicing attorney's professional life and very different from courtroom advocacy. This program will help you develop skills to present a coherent, concise message in meetings with potential clients, in public hearings and more.

Savoth, formerly Of Counsel to Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett & Bendesky PC, served as the Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2012. His trial practice focused on personal injury cases involving construction accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, dram shop (bars and taverns) liquor liability and the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Aside from lecturing on trial practice and the rules of professional conduct, Savoth has developed his public speaking skills over the last 25 years as an attorney and as Chancellor, where he was called upon to speak to various sized groups on many different topics and issues relevant to the role of the practicing attorney.

This 3 CLE credit program will be held in Philadelphia, on Friday, Aug. 6 at PBI Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets, 12-3:15 p.m.; check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is included. For additional information or to register, click here.

YLD Happy Hour Benefiting Summer-Long School Supply Drive Aug. 13

The Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division will host its monthly happy hour in partnership with Community Legal Services on Aug. 13 at 5:30 p.m. It will serve as the culmination of the Philadelphia Bar Association's summer-long school supply drive benefiting Turning Points for Children.

The happy hour will be held at Tavern on Broad, 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. The first 60 people to arrive will receive one free drink ticket and all attendees will enjoy complimentary appetizers as well as a 50 percent discount on all mixed drinks, beer and wine. The happy hour is sponsored by ELITE Litigation Solutions.

All attendees are encouraged to bring a donation. Registration is not required.

Registration Now Open for Bench-Bar at Borgata

The Philadelphia Bar Association will hold its Bench-Bar & Annual Conference on Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17 at Borgata in Atlantic City.

Attracting hundreds of attorneys and judges, the annual conference provides attorneys with an opportunity to earn CLE credits while getting a chance to network and socialize with colleagues and members of the judiciary. Twenty-three seminars and a minimum of 8 CLE credits will be available.

Registration is available at benchbar.philadelphiabar.org. Sponsors for the 2015 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference include First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, USI Affinity, Veritext, BPU Investments, JAMS The Resolution Experts, LawCash, Robson Forensic, State Civil Litigation Section, Family Law Section, Friedman LLP, Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman, RIMKUS, Widener University Delaware Law School, Bellia Print & Design, The Legal Intelligencer and Sb1 Federal Credit Union®.