In service to our mission at the Philadelphia Bar Association and as legal professionals, we are using our power, influence, and voice to meet this moment in support of democracy and the rule of law. The Association launched Meeting the Moment to further our mission by finding innovative ways to CONVENE, COMMUNICATE and COLLABORATE with different stakeholder groups, working toward the goal of defending democracy and assisting in individuals whose rights are under attack.
Join us as we begin dialogues on topics affecting our clients and the community, the first of which we will be on immigration. Immigrants bring diversity and strength to our community and help to power our city's economy. With the changes in policy at the federal level, many businesses and immigrant communities are struggling with understanding the state of the law while at the same time federal funding for organizations supporting such communities is being threatened.
Join us for an engaging seminar focused on emerging trends, strategies, and the opportunities and challenges of innovation in the legal sector.
Designed for legal professionals at all levels, this event will include dynamic fireside chats, discussions and Q&As, followed by interactive breakout sessions allowing participants to explore key innovation themes in small groups.
Topics will include the meaning of innovation in law, its growing necessity, the obstacles legal professionals face in adapting to change, and leadership mindsets that can drive transformation.
We want to hear from you: Take this short survey to ensure the topics you care about are included in the agenda-> Click here to share your thoughts now.
News
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.
Renew your Philadelphia Bar Association membership for 2025 today! Don't miss out on amazing member benefits like the latest Bar news, upcoming networking opportunities, CLEs, discounted services, and much more!
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!
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!
Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari issued a statement in memory of Professor Emerita Marina Angel, a member of the faculty of Temple’s Beasley School of Law since 1978, who died on February 1.
Features
A roundup of the latest activity taking place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
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.
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.
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
On January 20, 2025, The Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, Inc. hosted its Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Memorial Breakfast. This year’s celebration holds special significance as this is the first event of the Barristers’ Association’s Diamond Anniversary, marking 75 years of dedicated service, advocacy, and excellence within the legal community and beyond.
As a young Black professional stepping into the complex world of law and professional development, I understand firsthand the transformative impact that mentorship can have. In a society where systemic challenges persist, mentorship has become one of the most powerful tools for young Black individuals striving for success, identity, and belonging in professional spaces. This Black History Month, I want to reflect on how Black mentorship has shaped not only my journey, but also the journeys of countless others who, like me, seek guidance, affirmation, and empowerment.
Public Interest Spotlight
The Support Center for Child Advocates (Child Advocates) founded in 1977, has spent the last four decades serving children who have experienced abuse or neglect by recruiting, training and supporting hundreds of Volunteer Attorneys each year and pairing them with Masters Level Social Workers in order to zealously advocate for the safety, health, education, family permanency and access to justice for the children they represent.
Following the rescission of guidance that protected students from immigration enforcement in schools and the issuance of multiple executive orders facilitating deportation efforts, immigrant children across Pennsylvania now fear going to school.
Around Our Community
On February 26th 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 26th 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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
An ICHRA enables employers to allocate a fixed dollar amount to employees on a tax-free basis, which employees can use to purchase individual health insurance through the marketplace or private insurance providers. This arrangement provides a high degree of flexibility, allowing employees to choose the specific coverage that aligns with their unique health needs and family situations. For employers, this flexibility offers a valuable opportunity to design personalized benefit solutions that cater to a diverse workforce. By implementing an ICHRA, employers can offer a benefits strategy that provides value to employees while aligning with the company’s own financial and operational goals.
Featured CLEs & Events
Don't miss this chance to catch up with your colleagues and meet new friends in the environmental, energy, and resources law area in advance of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources' (SEER) 54th Spring Conference on Environmental Law, taking place March 26-28, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA. Lawyers, affiliated professionals, and students are invited to attend this networking happy hour. Refreshments will be provided by this event's sponsor, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
Join us for a fun and interactive evening of Speed Dating with the YLD Executive Committee! This event is designed to give you the chance to meet and get to know as many committee members as possible in a casual, fast-paced setting. It’s a great opportunity to foster connections with the Executive Committee while also sharing your thoughts and ideas on what you’d like to see from the YLD this year.
We’re still celebrating the Eagles' big win in the Super Bowl, so come ready to share the excitement and your own winning ideas! The Executive Committee members will be dressed in pink and/or red to make them easy to spot, so don’t be shy—come ready to network, share your ideas, and build lasting relationships with both fellow YLD members and the leadership team.
Location to be revealed shortly. Thank you to our sponsor, Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC!
Please join the International Law Committee for Stranger in a Strange Land: U.S. Discovery Tools in Foreign Litigation.
The first speaker is James Levine, a partner at Troutman Pepper Locke. The second speaker is Clara Duroure, visiting French intern at Troutman Pepper Locke and Élève-Avocate à l’École des Avocats de Rhône-Alpes. James Levine will present how and when to use 28 U.S.C. 1782 as a powerful tool to obtain discovery in U.S. courts in support of litigation in other countries, including France.
Clara Duroure will focus on discovery being almost entirely unknown in France. Have you ever wondered how French legal proceedings are conducted without discovery? What are the potential risks and challenges of taking discovery to France? She will explore the unique characteristics of French pre-trial practices, highlighting how they differ from those in the U.S. She will also examine the potential implications for international litigation, particularly in cases involving parties from both the U.S. and France.
The ILC is excited to invite you to our event. For more than 27 years, French interns have come to Philadelphia to undertake a 6-month internship. As part of this program, it has become a tradition for them to finish their visit by presenting about a matter of interest of French Law.
