Today: Annual Meeting Luncheon Dec. 8

Chancellor-Elect Gaetan J. Alfano, a partner at Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP, will outline his plans for 2016 at the Association's Annual Meeting Luncheon at Hyatt at The Bellevue on Tuesday, Dec. 8. at 12 p.m.

The Philadelphia Bar Association will be presenting two awards at the Annual Meeting & Luncheon.

The 2015 Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award recognizes a jurist who adheres to the highest ideals of judicial service. The 2015 award will be presented to Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper, President Judge, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The 2015 PNC Achievement Award honors a member who has made significant accomplishments in improving the administration of justice. The 2015 award will be presented to two members, A. Harold Datz, of counsel at Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer, & Kupersmith, P.C., and David Richman, of counsel at Pepper Hamilton LLP.

Election of officers and members of the Board of Governors will also be held on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the Ballroom Level of the Hyatt at The Bellevue. Officers to be elected are Vice Chancellor, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer and five members of the Board of Governors for three-year terms.

Hyatt at The Bellevue is located at 200 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. Registration has closed.

Board Observer Program Complimentary Year-End Reception Dec. 8

The Board Observer Program cordially invites you to its complimentary year-end reception at the offices of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP at 5 p.m. Hosted by Chancellor Albert S. Dandridge III, the event will feature a keynote by Pedro Ramos, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Foundation. The Board Observer Program is an initiative of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, the Young Lawyers Division and the Delivery of Legal Services Committee. Registration includes beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres.

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP is located at 1600 MArket St., 36th Floor, Philadelphia. Advanced registration is required by Dec. 3. To register, click here.

Ethics in International Business Dec. 9

International business ethics attempts to deal with questions of what to do in situations where ethical morals come into conflict as a result of the differing cultural and legal practices. Corporate governance, bribery, corruption, working conditions and targeted marketing are all issues that require organizations to establish an ethical standpoint from which they can work. As the process of globalization has increased its pace and depth, the problem and need for international business ethics has only intensified.

This four ethics program will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at PBI Conference Center in the Wanamaker Building, Market and Juniper streets, 12-4:15 p.m.; check-in begins at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is included. For additional information or to register, click here.

Pro Bono Opportunity: Represent Refugee Families in Berks County

The Immigration Law Committee is looking for attorneys to volunteer with the Berks Pro Bono Collaborative to represent families and children detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at Berks County Residential Center (BCRC).

Ninety-three individuals are currently detained at BCRC, and the center is likely to double in size in the coming weeks. Most families at BCRC have either a viable asylum or withholding of removal claim based on fear of returning to their countries. Training in immigration law, interpreters and mentoring are available to volunteer attorneys.

The Berks Pro Bono Collaborative is a project of the AILA Pro Bono Committee, Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center and HIAS Pennsylvania.

For more information on this pro bono opportunity, please contact Katelyn Hufe at katelyn@gthpc.com or at (215) 437-0392.

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.

Philadelphia Bar Career Center

The Philadelphia Bar Association's new Career Center, the career hub for the legal community, is now open for business at careercenter.philadelphiabar.org.

The Career Center is geared toward both job seekers and employers. Job seekers can search and apply to more legal-related jobs than other job banks. They can upload an anonymous resume and allow employers to contact them through the Career Center's messaging system. Job seekers can also set up Job Alerts specifying skills, interests and preferred location(s) to receive email notifications when a job is posted that matches their criteria.

Employers can post job openings in front of the most qualified group of legal professionals. Employers can promote jobs directly to Philadelphia Bar Association members via the exclusive Jobs Flash email as well as search the resume database to find qualified candidates.

Employers can post jobs for $250 for 30 days at careercenter.philadelphiabar.org.