The Philadelphia Bar Association issued a statement in honor of Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Hon. Angelo J. Foglietta, who died on September 28.

This 2025 summit will include a Higginbotham panel focusing on workplace cultures that build more inclusive workplaces and propose a new framework incorporating access, strategic business development and retention, leadership development, collaboration, and innovation. 

Our Judicial Commission's objective, nonpartisan investigations rate candidates on their ability, integrity, and judgment.

Volunteer with the Campaign for Qualified Judges on Election Day: The Bar Association's political action committee, which focuses on voter education, is seeking volunteers to hand out information about the Judicial Commission's ratings on Election Day. Volunteers are needed to work shifts from 7-10 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 5-8 p.m.

Sign up today

Happy Member Appreciation Week!

Congratulations to our 2025 Bar Champion: City of Philadelphia Law Department

Established in 2020, this award honors a Philadelphia law firm, law department, legal services organization, or law school that demonstrates exceptional support for the Association through 100% membership, leadership involvement, active engagement, and meaningful community service.
 
We are thrilled to recognize the Law Department as our first Institutional Partner and the first non–law firm to receive this honor. The Law Department's ongoing commitment and engagement – from service on the Board of Governors to leadership across three section Executive Committees and chairing two Committees – exemplify the spirit of this award.

Congratulations to the following 2025 Bar Stars:

• Business Law Section - Alexander Selarnick, Adam Yoffie
• Criminal Justice Section - Eleni Belisonzi, Helen Levin
• Family Law Section - M. Régine Charles-Asar, Beth Perez
• Probate & Trust Law Section - Michael A. Breslow, John F. Higgins
• Public Interest Section - Paul Carrion, Mary Kate Kalinich
• Real Property Section - Michael Froehlich, Michael McIlhinney
• State Civil Litigation Section - Dan Klaproth, Hon. Craig Levin
• Tax Section - Kayci Petenko, Heidi Schwartz
• Workers' Compensation Section - Jeffrey Gross, Heather Sica
• Young Lawyers Division - Melissa Hensinger, Ryan Spengler
• Most Growth by a Section or Committee: Business Law Section and Intellectual Property Committee and Paralegals and Legal Professionals Committee
• Highest Attendance at a CLE: Federal Courts Committee
• Most CLE Programs: Criminal Justice Section
• Best CLE Series: Family Law Section, Domestic Violence Month Series
• Publications Bar Star: Shelli Fedullo
• Social Media Bar Star: Courtney Gorman

Join us for Philadelphia Bar Association Member Appreciation Week on November 10-14! We have giveaways, special events and a Member Appreciation Reception on Wednesday, November 12 at The Lucy.

Whether you've served in a Philadelphia Bar Association leadership position in the past, or this would be your first time, all are encouraged to participate in this year's Bar Association elections. 

Let's support our brave and dedicated U.S. service members this holiday season and show them how much the Philadelphia Bar Association cares! We are hosting a bar-wide donation drive to collect funds from the members of our Sections, Committees, Board of Governors, and Bar Staff with the challenge to see what group can show our service members the most love and gratitude. 

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 Lawyer Referral and Information Service helps you expand your client base with a trusted service that has been serving the City for more than 70 years

• Get prescreened and vetted referrals in your practice area(s), with the flexibility to fit your schedule and caseload
• Make thousands of dollars extra each year
• Expand your reach, while also growing access to justice for all Philadelphians

Take advantage of our free trial period for new LRIS panel attorneys now until 12/31! We especially need attorneys for the Employment (especially union and wage & hour) and Insurance (especially health insurance) panels!

We take pride in supporting legal professionals in Philadelphia at every stage of their careers. Our members' experiences highlight the value of the Philadelphia Bar Association's resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts. Whether you're a seasoned attorney, a recent law school graduate, or a law student preparing for the future, our community is here to help you thrive. Read what our members have to say about how the Philadelphia Bar Association has positively impacted their professional journeys.

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!

Join the American Heart Association along with your colleagues, family, friends and neighbors as we come together to inspire healthy living, mental health awareness and overall well-being. Whether in-person or through a digital experience, we're going to touch more hearts, move more feet and raise more lifesaving funds than ever before through the Philadelphia Heart Walk.

The American Heart Association is committed to driving equitable health impact in our community. Equity is always at the center of our work, and it will continue to guide all that we do. By participating in the Heart Walk, your lifesaving dollars will fund research, address food insecurity and access to healthcare, and help us to better understand the root causes of health inequity in our region.

We have created the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Lawyers Have Heart Team and are hoping to get all sections/committees/Board of governors/law firms to create teams within the larger Philadelphia Bar Association “Company”

Join us as Judges Hon. Dan Anders, Administrative Judge, Trial Division, and Hon. Susan Schulman, Judicial Leader, Medical Malpractice Program, discuss several important updates to the First Judicial District's medical malpractice case management program.

Join the First Judicial District from 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 22 to learn how cases become mass torts, and the structure of the mass torts program. Additionally, you will discover the differences in how mass torts are handled on the federal vs. state level, and the different issues facing the judges overseeing mass torts in terms of coordination between federal and state judges.

The Summer 2025 issue includes stories from members of their experiences as children of immigrants. Members also share about their civil rights journey trip where they followed in the footsteps of the Civil Rights Movement as they traveled to Montgomery, Selma and Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. You'll also read about pro bono success stories - the first of a series of “pro bono success stories” which highlight the essential needs of pro bono clients and the transformative impact of work by our public interest law centers and dedicated legal volunteers.

How does your firm or organization train young lawyers? What resources and training opportunities does your firm provide? We’d love to hear from members from a range of different firms – small, mid-size, and large.

Share your submissions with us in 300-500 words to be featured in the Winter issue of The Philadelphia Lawyer magazine!

Email communications@philabar.org with your submission and headshot by November 7.

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

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

October is always a reminder that pro bono service is more than checking a box; it’s about defending democracy. Lawyers are not just case managers but advocates, leaders, and guardians of justice.

The next two months at VIP are filled with trainings, clinics, and other opportunities for both new and returning volunteers to connect with VIP! Check out the calendar to learn more.

On behalf of the St. Thomas More Society of Philadelphia, members of the local legal community are invited to attend the 2025 Red Mass, to be celebrated on Thursday, 10/30/25, at 5:15 P.M., at St. John the Evangelist Church, located at 21 South 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, (215) 563-4145, parish office.

The Most Reverend Michael Fitzgerald, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia, retired, and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar, will preside. The principal celebrant and homilist will be the Reverend Thomas Betz, O.F.M. Cap., Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish and also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. 

This traditional liturgy invokes the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon the Bench and Bar of the Metropolitan Philadelphia legal community as we begin a new judicial year. It is a moment of reflection, collegial fellowship, and shared commitment to justice. 

Members of the Court may choose to vest for Mass in their judicial robes. If enough judges express interest to Fr. Betz at (215) 563-4145 beforehand, a civil procession of enrobed judges will take place.

Join the Philadelphia Bar Foundation for a special fundraising event hosted by J.McLaughlin, and Philadelphia Bar Foundation Trustee, Puddy Toland, on Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 5:00–7:00 PM at their Haverford store (379 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA).

Come enjoy an evening of shopping, community, and philanthropy — your support truly makes a difference. 

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.

Check out these events from the Wellness Committee!

In today’s increasingly polarized social and political climate, law firms face a growing tension between the responsibility to foster psychologically safe workplaces and the perceived risks of speaking out on divisive issues. At the same time, lawyers and legal professionals are experiencing rising rates of stress, burnout, and moral fatigue – challenges that are exacerbated by workplace cultures that may remain silent during times of societal upheaval.

Join the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division & Real Property Section for a joint Happy Hour on Thursday, October 16!

This event is generously hosted by

Join the Federal Courts Committee, Women in the Profession Committee, and In-House Counsel Committee for a joint happy hour event with the federal judges and clerks. Come mingle with the judges and your fellow lawyers in a relaxed environment in the Becker Lobby of the U.S. Courthouse. This is a members-only event and will be on a first come, first served basis, so be sure to sign up early. The $25 fee for this event helps offset the costs for the judges and law clerks to attend.