On April 29, Chancellor Katayun Jaffari introduced a Chancellor's forum called "The Changing Landscape of Judicial Security & Beyond" which focused on judicial security and personal security measures for legal professionals, their clients, and even their family members, citing recent incidents and risks faced by lawyers and judges. This forum was a follow up to the judicial security forum that the 2024 Chancellor Jen Coatsworth presented last December.
Look for us at #38 and #39! Voting ends June 13.
News
Join us as we celebrate achievements by women aviators. Women in aviation and women in combat have been trailblazers in ensuring all people, regardless of gender, have an equal opportunity to serve their country. This program will highlight the accomplishments of women aviators and the legal and policy changes that have allowed women to serve as pilots in the military and private sector.
The Philadelphia Bar Association’s Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention is conducting its biannual poll on the qualifications of judges seeking retention in the November 2025 general election. The poll closes Friday, May 30!
You decide who becomes a judge in Philadelphia. Our Judicial Commission's objective, nonpartisan investigations rate candidates on their ability, integrity and judgment. Make an informed decision – view our 2025 ratings and share them with your networks!
The annual Bar Run is a day that is a must attend event every year for lawyers and many who work at law firms around the Philadelphia legal community. It has become a day where you are almost guaranteed to run into colleagues or friends you have not seen all year and provides a great chance to reconnect.
As markets grow more crowded and competition heats up, how can your law firm stay ahead? Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with a leading professor from Indiana University as we unpack the forces driving competitive intensity today. This interview-style webinar explores the trends, strategies, and insights you need to navigate a rapidly evolving landscape — straight from the heart of academia to your screen.
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 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!
Thank you to the volunteers who participated in Law Week 2025!
For Legal Advice Live, thank you to the following volunteers: Charnae Supplee, Yvonne Ruiz, Brandon Millinghausen and Will Patton.
For Lawyers in the Classroom, thank you to the following volunteers: Samuel Mukiibi, Ryan Murphy, Kayci Petenko, and Alexis Childs for speaking to Mr. Salvatore Garcia's 11th graders from Penn Treaty School about the legal field, what's required to become a lawyer, what lawyers do on a daily basis, and much more.
For the Goldilocks Trial, thank you to the following volunteers: Samantha Greenfield, Melissa Hensinger, Audrey Rose Melli-Mirza, Danielle Pell, Jessica Rodriguez, Candice Kearney, and Chancellor Kathy Jaffari.
We hope you enjoyed an informal happy hour with your fellow State Civil Litigation professionals at Wicked Wolf Philadelphia!
Thank you to our sponsors!
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Features
A roundup of the latest activity taking place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Joining only a few other judicial districts in the nation, Philadelphia Courts have partnered with West Chester University to provide post-jury service support for any trial juror experiencing jury service-related anxiety or trauma.
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.
The Winter 2025 issue celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Civil Gideon Task Force, introduces the 98th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, highlights the 2024 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "Pursuit of Justice" Legal Writing Competition winning essay, and more.
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
Saigon Grace Café isn’t breaking any new food boundaries. But every item is prepared with care, and the coffees/teas rule. I hope it succeeds.
Expected to be unveiled at the 2025 Workers’ Compensation Spring Reception and Awards Ceremony is a new 4’ x 6’ oil painting by artist Jennifer Costello Okamura of historic Shibe Park (later known as Connie Mack Stadium). Located at North 21st Street and W. Lehigh Avenue, Shibe Park was the home of the Philadelphia Athletics baseball team from 1909 to 1954, as well as the Philadelphia Phillies from 1938 to 1970. When it opened in 1909, Shibe Park became baseball’s first steel-reinforced concrete stadium, and over the years it hosted eight World Series and two MLB All-Star Games. In 1939, it was the site of the first night game played in the American League—only after a successful court case argued by future Philadelphia mayor Richardson Dilworth.
Perspectives
As spring unfolds across Philadelphia, we’re reminded that this season is not just about warmer weather and longer days, it’s about renewal. It's about planting seeds of justice, generosity, and collective care that will take root in the months ahead. At the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, we see May as a moment to pause, reflect, and reinvest in ourselves, in our communities, and in the enduring promise of equal justice under the law.
Public Interest Spotlight
PVLA’s mission is to empower underserved artists and arts organizations in the Greater Philadelphia region by providing access to free legal services, knowledge, and resources. By supporting, empowering and advocating for the work of the region’s creatives and arts organizations, PVLA also champions the important civic endeavor of encouraging the diversity, vigor, and historic importance of arts and culture in the region.
Who do you trust to care for a loved one during a vulnerable time? How will you ensure quality care for your child living with a disability or your aging parents in the safety of their own home? Home health aides are crucial to our society and form the cornerstone of the care economy, especially as more Americans turn 65 this year than ever before. Yet, these essential workers frequently struggle to earn a living wage, receive minimal professional training, and face abandonment by agencies when their assigned "consumer" no longer requires their care.
Around Our Community
The Philadelphia Bar Association is partnering with Carpenters’ Hall historic site to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Pennsylvania Provincial Conference in 2026. This June 1776 colonial gathering authorized the creation of Pennsylvania’s 1776 constitution and influenced the adoption of the Declaration of Independence just a week later. Due to the significance of this event, the Pennsylvania General Assembly has designated Carpenters’ Hall as the official birthplace of the Commonwealth.
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!
Date: Thursday, May 29
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy & Kramer LLP
4 Sentry Parkway East, Suite 100
Blue Bell, PA 19422
RSVP by May 19 to lawalumni@duq.edu
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.
Ready to hit the road this spring? Through your Philadelphia Bar Association Avis Car Rental Savings Program, you can save up to 25% off base rates on your rental. Whether you're heading out for a well-deserved spring break or planning a weekend adventure, your discount helps you get there for less.
Plus, enjoy extra perks when you enroll in Avis Preferred®, including:
Don’t wait, this offer is only valid from May 1 to May 22!
It's All in The Details
Be sure to use your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number D423501!
Text PHILABARABG to 833.344.0228 to receive exclusive limited time offers.
Featured CLEs & Events
Check out these events from the Wellness Committee!
The Business Law Section's Annual Reception will be held at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel on May 14, 2025!
You're invited to an evening celebrating excellence in the legal profession. We are pleased to announce that the 2025 Replansky Award will be presented to William H. Clark, Jr. and the 2025 Dandridge Award will be presented to Sophia Z. Lee in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the profession. The evening will include a networking reception with colleagues and friends.
Thanks to our sponsor:
Attend this dynamic forum with powerhouse panel of diverse attorneys who are breaking barriers and leading change in the legal world. Hear their real stories, gain insider advice and fuel your own journey. Continue the conversation in the speed networking sessions that follows, where you will be able to ask questions specific to your area of interest, receive practical tips regarding resumes and interviewing, as well as make valuable connections with top legal professionals.
Law students, join us on Thu. 5/15 at Stradley Ronon at 2005 Market Street, Suite 2600, to hear our panelists and attorneys share their expertise and experiences on topics from excelling in interviews to navigating the work environment, and more.
Join the Young Lawyers Division, Probate and Trust Law Section and the Tax Section for a happy hour at the Fitler Club. Network with section members over food and drinks and learn about all the Fitler Club has to offer.
Join the Philadelphia Bar Association's Family Law Section for a happy hour to celebrate the conclusion of the WRAP Court Law School Hygiene Drive in collaboration with Local Law Schools including: Temple Beasley School of Law, Villanova Charles Widger School of Law, Drexel Kline School of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law, Rutgers Camden School of Law, Penn State Dickenson School of Law, and Widener School of Law.
Please join us to mark the beginning of summer and a successful Law School Drive to collect hygiene items for youth involved in Philadelphia’s WRAP Court. In Philadelphia, WRAP Court, which stands for "Working to Restore Adolescent Power," is a specialty court within the Juvenile Division of the Philadelphia Family Court. It focuses on human trafficking and sex trafficking victims, particularly minors who have been through the dependency or delinquency systems. WRAP Court aims to provide specialized support and resources to these individuals, including trauma-informed care and a multidisciplinary team approach to address their unique needs.
Entry is free for members and law students who bring a hygiene item. We will be announcing the winners of our Drive who will be presented with a certificate. All those who bring a hygiene item will be given a ticket to our raffle to win one of 2 Raffle Baskets. Food and drink available for payment.
