The Philadelphia Bar Association, which has repeatedly called for lawmakers in Harrisburg to fill the vacancies, said in a statement that additional judges are needed “immediately” to relieve overcrowded schedules.

“We simply cannot afford to wait any longer,” said Katayun Jaffari, the chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. “We, again, urge our leaders in Harrisburg and Philadelphia to rise above political concerns and work collaboratively to fill these vacancies.”

The Philadelphia Bar Association is now on Bluesky! If you'd like to follow us, you can create a FREE account to keep up with the latest news and updates!

It's that time of year again, and the YLD needs you more than ever! We have 31 high school mock trial teams competing in this year's John S. Bradway High School Mock Trial Competition, which is hosted annually by the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association and Temple University - James E. Beasley School of Law. While we are excited to have so much student participation, we cannot make this happen without YOU! Please consider volunteering for one or more rounds as a judge—no prior experience needed.

The complete schedule and sign-up form for this year's competition are here: https://ow.ly/orql50UG8PR

You can sign up for as many or as few rounds of competition as your schedule permits. If you have trouble filling out the form on the Philadelphia Bar Association's website, please email Eric Pasternack at epasternack@cprlaw.com. Please pass this information on to your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sydney Groll at sgroll@sccalaw.org or Eric Pasternack at epasternack@cprlaw.com.

We hope to see you at one (or more!) of our mock trial rounds this year!

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH! 

As we continue our commitment to ensuring a welcoming inclusive organization, this month, we CELEBRATE and recognize the achievements and contributions of Black people, reflect on the past to inspire the future, and showcase the trendsetters, history-makers and innovators who influence us every day within the profession and beyond. 

Visit our Office of Diversity page to learn more.

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

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.

Our Fall 2024 edition includes perspectives from members of the Association on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession. Members share their past experiences - the good, the bad and the ugly - as well as hopes for the future of DEI. The need for fair access to opportunities, embracing diversity, and challenging of biases are all reflected in the experiences shared by our members.

The Philadelphia Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication welcomes a new Judge to the bench this winter: The Honorable Kelly Dempsey. Paul Loriston had the pleasure of getting to know Judge Dempsey as they were colleagues representing different sides of the “V.”

If you have a moment, we’d truly appreciate it if you could leave us a quick Google review. Share how your experience with the Bar Association has helped you to make connections and grow your career! It only takes a minute, and your insights can help others know what to expect. Your positive feedback helps our Association grow and continue providing the best service possible for members. 

Thank you for your support—it means the world to us!

Google: Philadelphia Bar Association -> Give us a star rating -> Write a review -> Hit Post

As we move through 2025, we are finding the power of our voice to stay true to our mission, to serve the profession and the public by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law. Here are three ways you can lean on our Association. 

Last year, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation celebrated its 60th anniversary. We worked hard and ended our year on the high of the Philly Justice Ball. Our plan was to simply build upon the energy from our anniversary year, however, as we begin our 61st year the landscape has completely changed.  

The Courts, Community, and Rule of Law Committee of the Judicial Council of the Third Circuit announced today that it is hosting an essay contest for elementary students focused on civics, citizenship, and the concept of “We the People” – which are the first three words of the Preamble to the United States Constitution. The essay prompt is: How did our Nation’s Founders envision ‘the People’ when they drafted the Constitution, and how should we interpret their vision in our country today?

We are happy to share two exciting opportunities for a quick mindfulness practice to help you get through your work week offered by mindfulness expert and attorney Courtney Schulnik!

• On February 26^th at 3:00 PM EST, the EJC will host a Webinar: Bridging the Justice Gap: Leveraging Virtual Hubs for Civil Legal Aid – a panel discussion moderated by Miguel Willis, Innovator in Residence at University of Pennsylvania Penn Carey School of Law’s Future of the Profession Initiative with leaders from Ohio, Michigan, Oregon, Minnesota, Illinois, and North Carolina.

• On February 26^th at noon, the Board Observer Program will host a Lunch ‘N Learn Webinar: Effective Nonprofits and Board Promising Practices presented by Fernando Chang-Muy, MA, JD, Thomas 0’Boyle Lecturer, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law.

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

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.

New Year. New Job? Alevistar Legal Search is a Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Partner, and the premier legal search firm in the Philadelphia area focused on partner placements, group mergers, and associate placements.

If you want to grow or take a new direction in your career in 2025, consider working with Alevistar. Some of the best jobs are never advertised and many law firms and companies turn to Alevistar to recruit and refer top candidates to fill these positions. Alevistar Legal Search has relationships with many types of law firms & organizations that rely on us to assist with their hiring process.

To learn more or set up a meeting contact Brian Levinson at 610-617-1218 or brian@alevistar.com or Jason Mandel at 610-617-1219 or jason@alevistar.com or visit www.alevistar.com.

Join the Wellness Committee as they partner with the For Pete’s Sake Cancer Respite Foundation