We can't wait to celebrate YOU – join us for a week of special programming, giveaways and more! Here is a list of what's happing during Member Appreciation Week:
Special thanks to event sponsor: Esquire Deposition Solutions
More to come!
Join us as we celebrate YOU – our members – with a Member Appreciation Reception and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, November 12 at City Winery, 990 Filbert St. We will celebrate our 2024 "Bar Stars" and Bar Champion over food, drinks and music.
Congratulations to the following 2024 Bar Stars:
We are also excited to honor our 2024 Bar Champion, Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock and Dodig LLP.
Don't miss a great party and exciting raffle giveaways! Try your luck with prize drawings at every event, meeting and CLE during the week. Prizes include:
Special thanks to event sponsor: Esquire Deposition Solutions
News
Join your colleagues and friends at any of these upcoming Section holiday parties!
Criminal Justice Section Annual Reception – REGISTER NOW
Tue, December 17, 2024
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
State Civil Litigation Section Annual Reception & Holiday Party – REGISTER NOW
Wed, December 18, 2024
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
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
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.
The Philadelphia Bar Association Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention is in need of attorney volunteers to serve as part of its investigative division for the 2025 judicial election cycle. Volunteers are needed beginning this fall and winter, and volunteer opportunities would continue to be available through early-to-mid 2025.
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!
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.
Kristine Calalang, owner at the Law Office of Kristine Calalang, is running unopposed for Vice Chancellor.
The Board of Governors race is uncontested. The candidates are Lakeisha R. Fields, Gabrielle (Gabi) A. Outlaw, Rhonda M. Fulginiti, and Kevin Levy.
The line office posts are uncontested. Candidates are Karima Yelverton [SECRETARY], Melanie J. Foreman [ASSISTANT SECRETARY], Erin Lamb [TREASURER], and Josh J.T. Byrne [ASSISTANT TREASURER].
The YLD Executive Committee election is contested and members of the Young Lawyers Division will select seven candidates.
Young Lawyers Executive Committee (seven open seats): Hermione Cadet, Abigail Gustafson, Brooke Hurlbrink, Adam Leasure, Margaret MacDonald, Brandon Millinghausen, Audrey Melli-Mirza, Ryan Murphy, Elizabeth Perez, Rachel Sorrentino, Charnae Supplee, and Ashley Taragna
Nearly two years since the change in the venue rule, Hon. Dan Anders and Hon. Susan Schulman will discuss several important updates to the First Judicial District's medical malpractice case management program including:
The Court encourages all attorneys with active medical malpractice cases in Philadelphia to attend so they are aware of important changes to the medical malpractice program and the Court's expectations of counsel. In-house counsel, client representatives, claims handlers/adjusters, risk managers, insurance executives, and other non-lawyers involved in the handling of medical malpractice claims are also welcome to attend.
If you have any problems with registration, please email steven.wulko@courts.phila.gov.
There is no fee to register for the webinar. Lawyers, client representatives, claims handlers/adjusters, risk managers, and other non-lawyers are welcome to attend. Advanced registration is required by 5 p.m. Monday, November 18, 2024.
Features
A roundup of the latest activity taking place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
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.
We want to hear from you! Do you have a legal analysis article idea or a story to share about a memorable case, social issues, travel or even pop culture, fiction or poetry? Share your submission with us to be featured in a future issue of The Philadelphia Lawyer magazine!
Email communications@philabar.org with the subject line: Magazine submission
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.
Perspectives
Even though the times of the pandemic-related shutdowns and disruption seem far away, some major changes have taken place in the legal world such as the persistence of remote work. This has meant that the vast majority of legal proceedings are still done virtually with the exception of live, in-person testimony. While we can all acknowledge that few practitioners miss having to drive several hours for short, non-testimonial hearings, we can recognize that some intangible aspects of the practice of law have been difficult to recreate in a virtual setting.
Around Our Community
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.
The Annual Amber Racine Turkey Drive is happening on Saturday, November 23, 2024. The Barristers Association of Philadelphia has hosted its Annual Turkey Drive for several decades, providing nutritious Thanksgiving meals to families across the Philadelphia region. Last year, they provided 750 families with Thanksgiving meals! Volunteer to make a difference this holiday season.
Benefits and Partner Spotlight
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:
Decisis is a fast, reliable legal research tool powered by LexisNexis - free for Philadelphia Bar Association members - a $1788 value! Search all courts and jurisdictions (Need a case outside Pennsylvania? Find it with Decisis™.)
To access the benefit login with your member account.
No law firm expects to fall victim to a cyberattack, but the reality is that legal practices are prime targets for cybercriminals. With a wealth of sensitive client data and often insufficient cybersecurity measures, law firms find themselves in a vulnerable position. In fact, 29% of law firms have already experienced a security breach, and the average data breach costs professional services firms a staggering $4.47 million. Even more alarming, cyberattacks on law firms have surged by 60% in just the past two years.
Don’t wait until your firm becomes another statistic. Secure your client information and safeguard your firm’s future by leveling up your security. Download Rocket Matter’s infographic today and learn how Rocket Matter can help protect your practice from costly breaches and strengthen your defense against cyber threats.
Ensure your law firm's long-term financial stability with this eBook, offering 10 straightforward tips to improve cash flow management and safeguard your practice.
Featured CLEs & Events
Attend in-person or virtually for a face-paced, in-depth afternoon on practical topics to help attorneys successfully advocate for clients in federal court. In-person attendees are invited to join colleagues and Eastern District of Pennsylvania Judges for a "meet and greet" reception immediately following the conference!
Join the Mid-Size Firm Management Committee on Thursday, November 21 for an hour of discussion about the perils of AI followed by a complimentary happy hour! The roundtable discussion will be led by Veda Shamsid-Deen, Esquire, Co-Founder, COO - ARConnex Inc. and Founder-T3 Creators Collective, LLC., who specialized in innovation, and emerging technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize the legal industry, offering unprecedented tools to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of law firm operations. However, without a proper roadmap, AI adoption can lead to significant challenges, particularly for midsize law firms.
Join the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division along with the South Asian Bar Association and the Asian Pacific American Bar Association for a happy hour on Thursday, November 14 at 6:00pm.
*Advanced registration is required prior to Monday, November 11*
