The Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention of the Philadelphia Bar Association evaluates the qualifications of persons seeking election or appointment to the Philadelphia Common Pleas and Municipal Courts, and to Pennsylvania Appellate Courts when the candidate has a principal office or chambers in Philadelphia. 

Individuals who are considering filing for the 2025 primary election as judicial candidates or who wish to be considered for appointment, should visit the Judicial Commission page on the Philadelphia Bar Association website to obtain a Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire, the Commission’s Guidelines for Evaluation of Attorney and Judge Candidates, and the Bylaws of the Philadelphia Bar Association. 

In order to ensure that each candidate receives a full and fair evaluation, the completed and signed questionnaire with writing samples should be returned by TOMORROW to the Judicial Commission at judicialcomm@philabar.org 

Under the Commission’s Guidelines, any candidates who do not participate in the Commission’s evaluation process will receive “Not Recommended” ratings if they continue to pursue either appointment or election.

Take advantage of this deal before September ends! You won't want to miss out on discounted prices, CLE credits, new contacts, and much more with this special offer.

Meet the candidates for the 2024 Bar Elections. The line office and Board of Governors races are uncontested. The YLD Executive Committee election is contested and members of the Young Lawyers Division will select seven candidates.

If you’ve never volunteered as a poll worker or election judge, or stepped forward in other ways to help with the election process in Philadelphia or the suburbs, this is the year to get involved! Our Association is partnering with the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Committee of Seventy and Troutman Pepper's Pepper Center for Public Service in an effort to recruit poll workers for all 67 counties this November.

If you’re interested in becoming a poll worker, sign up using the form below today!

In partnership with the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, we are excited to host this very important and timely webinar related to the upcoming election. This program is designed to educate non-profit organizations on what activities relating to elections, such as voter registration, are permissible without risking their tax exempt status. Join us and our esteemed panel as we learn about ways to make a difference this November! 

Are you a pickleball fanatic or just interested in learning more about the game in a collegial setting? Mentorship and Professional Development Committee Co-Chair Jordan Strokovsky is organizing a Saturday pickleball outing for Bar Association members at Ballers in Fishtown.

Anyone interested in taking part should email Membership Coordinator Sam Lyons at slyons@philabar.org. Once a date is chosen, additional details will be posted on the Bar Association website.

Celebrate individuals and groups making a positive impact on our community!

Achievement Award 
To be presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting on December 10, 2025
Description: The Award recognizes significant accomplishments in improving the administration of justice (preferably in Philadelphia.)
Deadline: Friday, November 7, 2025

Mark your calendars and plan to join us for our 2024 Annual Meeting starting at 4:30 p.m. at the Crystal Tea Room in the historic Wanamaker Building! We will welcome 2025 Chancellor Katayun Jaffari, celebrate the Association's accomplishments this year, and honor the recipients of the 2024 Justice Sonia Sotomayor Award, the Achievement Award and the Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "Pursuit of Justice" Legal Writing Competition. We will also recognize the 2024 inductees to the 50, 60 and 70-Year Clubs. 

Our Summer 2024 edition includes tributes to Steve LaCheen, a longtime editorial board member of The Philadelphia Lawyer who died in May, from previous and current board members. This issue also includes side hustles and second careers submitted by members of the Association.

A roundup of the latest activity taking place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 

Members have access to HeinOnline archive collection of Philadelphia Bar Association publications. To access the archive, you must be a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Important new federal Department of Education regulations took effect nationwide on August 1, strengthening protections against sex discrimination and harassment in public schools under Title IX.  

My pro bono work for the Homeless Advocacy Project’s (HAP) in-person legal clinics made me realize that I was fortunate.  Many of the clients I assist never had copies of their important documents or have lost them along the way.  Showing up for them is a commitment that brings meaning to my life.  And when one of those clients shows up for our meetings despite their numerous life challenges, it feels as big as any win I have had in my career. 

The HBALEF Scholarship Banquet will be held on Sept. 26 at the Downtown Club in Philadelphia. In addition to honoring our scholarship recipients, we will be also be honoring Brenda L. Marrero, Chief Operating Officer at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, as our honoree for the event. 

Purchase tickets to the banquet below.

Time to celebrate! On Saturday, November 9, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation will celebrate its 60th anniversary and honor four of the community’s fiercest advocates. Please join us as one city and one region, working together to help Philadelphia’s civil legal aid organizations and pro bono attorneys reach more people and expand access to justice.

By sponsoring the Philly Justice Ball, you’ll help the Philadelphia Bar Foundation raise much-needed funds to sustain unrestricted annual grants to our nonprofit partners, as well as support other initiatives that strengthen civil legal aid services. This is a major celebration and fundraising event that will direct more resources to help Philadelphians access whatever civil legal information, resources, and services they need, regardless of background, income, or zip code. For Justice Everywhere!

Learn more about the Philly Justice Ball and sponsorship opportunities below.

SEPTEMBER 28-30
Center for Criminal Justice

Empire Philadelphia is scheduled for September 28-30. You can volunteer for one trial or several—it is up to you. 

Empire Mock Trial is a 501 (c)(3) education nonprofit that coordinates mock trial programs for high school students. This is the first year that we are hosting a program in Philadelphia, after running competitions in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Hong Kong.

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors, who helped to make this year's conference possible:

Our Annual Partners, Alevistar, bit-x-bit, M&T Bank, ProfitSolv, USI Affinity, MyBenefit Advisor and Wealth Enhancement Group.

Our Bench-Bar conference sponsors: Presenting sponsor, the First Judicial District; Platinum Sponsors, ABC Bail Bonds, Decisis and LexisNexis; Gold Sponsor, Clinical Expert Providers; Silver Sponsors, Esquire, Fleisher Forensics, JAMS, Marcum and Premier Vocational Experts; Bronze Sponsor, McEldrew Purtell, and Friend of the Bar Sponsors, American Law Media, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, Bellia, MGC and the Pepper Center.

Our scholarship donors: Fulginiti Law, Fox Rothschild, The Duffy Firm, Nikki and Gaetan Alfano, Saltz Mongeluzzi, Gross & Kenny, White and Williams, Feldman Shepherd, Messa & Associates, Schwartz Fox & Saltzman, Raynes & Lawn, Pond Lehocky and Stradley Ronon.

Philadelphia Bar Association members get FREE access to Decisis, a comprehensive, intuitive legal research tool powered by LexisNexis. Get a world-class citator and 24/7 customer support. Getting started is easy!

Our Annual Partners and other benefit providers give Bar Association members access to discounts from local and national retailers, for legal and professional services and more!

DISCOUNTS INCLUDE:

• Wireless and data services discounts from Verizon, including 22% off your monthly bill for eligible members
• Travel discounts and planning services from Mondee
• Up to 35% PC computers and printers from HP
• Up to 20% off on gifts from 1-800-FLOWERS, Harry & David, and Cheryl’s Cookies
• Additional discounts on products and services, including performances at the Kimmel Cultural Campus, rental cars through Avis and Budget, and more

California's SB-1047, aka the “AI Act,” is moving forward through the state’s legislative process with new amendments aimed at regulating high-risk generative AI models. The bill, designed to prevent potential large-scale harm and ensure information safety, has been amended based on feedback from AI firms and others.

While it aims to set a precedent for AI safety, it faces criticism from tech giants and some lawmakers who worry it might hinder innovation. Next steps: approval from the state Assembly and Senate, and then Governor Newsom’s review. Will this law, should it pass in California, become a model for other states to follow? And how should lawyers try to leverage AI in their respective fields?

bit-x-bit has GenAI-supported software to help you build chronologies and case maps, as well as conduct document review. Contact us to learn more.

Hear from an esteemed panel of Philadelphia-area General Counsel to understand the complexities facing them as general counsel in support of growth and innovation, particularly in connection with the increasing prevalence of Artificial Intelligence, end of Chevron deference, and the upcoming Presidential election. General Counsel will address these challenges facing them as legal advisors to their clients in the midst of evolving technological and societal issues that are forcing organizations to modernize operations and confront new legal and ethical questions.

Building on the required trainings provided by Pennsylvania counties for poll workers, this CLE session, led by a former long-time experienced election official, will examine the basics of working the polls in Pennsylvania and give additional details on important election day procedures. The program will also address why attorneys and law students are particularly well suited to be poll workers. It is perfect for a first-time poll worker or experienced poll worker who wants to brush up on their knowledge. 

Join us for the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division for a Happy Hour on Thursday, October 17th from 5:30 to 7:30pm. Network with your fellow colleagues, unwind after a long day, and enjoy great company

This event is generously hosted by Nochumson P.C.

Our Women in the Profession Committee requests your presence at an elegant Afternoon Tea. Enjoy networking with colleagues and friends over tea, traditional finger sandwiches, scones, and other treats.

Thank you to our event sponsors:

Join the Wellness Committee and colleagues from the Montgomery County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations for this year's Wellness Walk through Wissahickon Valley Park!