Happy Member Appreciation Week!

GRAB YOUR CAPES and join us for a week of special programming, giveaways and more!

• Sign up to get a FREE headshot at the Bar Association offices between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12 or Thursday, Nov. 13. 
  Sign up here.

• Sign up for a free career strategy session with Brian Levinson and Jason Mandel from our Annual Partner Alevistar Legal Search in Philly. "Pick the brain" of a top legal recruiter and discuss the current lateral recruitment market in Philly as it pertains to you! Sessions will last about 15 minutes and be conducted via Zoom. Space is limited – don't delay! To sign up, email Member Services Coordinator Sam Lyons with the subject line "Alevistar Career Session." 

• Take advantage of a week of special CLE programming including the 2025 Federal Bench Bar Conference 
  (registration is now open!). Check out our CLE calendar here. 

• Learn more about the upcoming Bar Elections by attending a virtual forum at noon on Wednesday, November 12 with the 2025 candidates for Vice-Chancellor, the Association line offices, Board of Governors and YLD Executive Committee. Registration opens soon! 

• Join our Center for Innovation in the Practice of Law for a dynamic, hands-on, in-person presentation on the responsible use of AI by lawyers. Register now to join us from 8:30-10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11 at Dechert LLP, 2929 Arch. St. 
  Register here.

Take the leap with prize drawings at every event, meeting and CLE during the week. Watch this space for more details!

Prizes include: 

• Vitamix Propel 510 blender

• Bose SoundLink Revolve+ Bluetooth Speaker

• Echo Dot

• Echo Pop

• 1 free 2026 Philadelphia Bar Association Membership

• 2 free tickets to the 2026 Philadelphia Bar Association Annual Meeting

• An overnight stay at either the Borgata’s Classic Room or the MGM Tower’s Contemporary Resort Room with a $150 food and beverage credit sponsored by the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa

• 2 OHOM self-warming mugs (each a $105 value) sponsored by CS DISCO

• $100 Starr Restaurants gift card sponsored by Matejka Legal Marketing

• $100 Capital Grille gift card sponsored by Matejka Legal Marketing

• Dinner and a show for two at City Winery

• Two tickets to a performance at the Ensemble Arts Philly

• Bowling for up to 10 people at Lucky Strike Philadelphia

• 1-night free stay at the Canopy by Hilton Center City 

• A $25 gift card for Tapster Tasting Room

• A Bank & Bourbon gift card from the Loews Philadelphia Hotel

• A gift card from Craft Concepts Group (Uptown Beer Garden, the Elephant, Uptown Beer Garden)

• A gift card to Top Tomato Bar & Pizza

• A gift card to the Philadelphia Runner

Thank you to our sponsors and prize donors! 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were cut off Saturday, November 1 due to the federal government shutdown. This means no new funds will be added to the EBT debit cards that 40 million Americans and approximately half a million Philadelphians use to pay for groceries.

We are sharing resources below for those who would like to donate food or who may need food assistance:

• Philabundance 
• Share Food Program
• Feeding America
• Greater Philadelphia Area Community Fridges

Meet the candidates for the 2025 Bar Elections. We have uncontested races for the line offices, but contested races for the Board of Governors and YLD Executive Committee.

Get to know the candidates at our upcoming Elections Forum:

Forum 2 on Wed., November 19, 2025 will involve both Board of Governors and YLD Executive Committee candidates - REGISTER NOW

A proposed amended version of the Philadelphia Bar Association bylaws were adopted by the Board of Governors at the September 16, 2025, meeting (pursuant to Section 12.1.1.1 of the current bylaws) and are being submitted to the membership per Section 12.1.2. The amended bylaws will be presented to the membership for approval as part of our upcoming Bar election.

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!

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. 

The Philadelphia Bar Association invites you and your guest(s) to join our journey through Portugal’s Old-World allure and New World splendor. Our immersive program will engage with local attorneys, scholars, and artists offering poignant commentary on the Portuguese and E.U. legal and political systems, U.S.-Portuguese trade relations, Portuguese constitutional law, art, history, architecture, religion, and much more. You do not want to miss this opportunity to experience the heart of Portugal with the ability to earn up to 7.0 substantive CLE credits**.

Join PMP Marketing Group on November 5th to learn more from Haley Pope Weigle and Jim Paquette about how personal injury firms can harness the emotion and community loyalty of sports through NIL partnerships. This webinar explores how sports create heroes, rivalries, and brand love — and how personal injury firms can tap into that energy. Join us for a deep dive into how athlete storytelling can transform brand trust!

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

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”

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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

We want to run your photos in The Philadelphia Lawyer! Here is what we're looking for: In honor of America's sesquicentennial in 2026, we would like to see photos of what it means to you to live in Philadelphia, the birthplace of our country. Whether its photos of favorite historic sites or images that bring to mind the ideals upon which our country was founded, please send them our way. Send photos, along with a sentence or two about their meaning, to us at communications@philabar.org. Photos should be sent at the highest possible resolution.

If you need to coordinate an alternate way to transmit your photo, email Diana George at dgeorge@philabar.org or Rachel Kipp at rkipp@philabar.org with the subject line "Philadelphia Lawyer Photo Essay."

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

November invites us to reflect on what we value most: justice, community, and the shared responsibility we carry to protect both. At the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, this month represents a powerful intersection of celebration and challenge as we honor progress and renew our collective commitment to equal access to justice and the democratic principles that sustain it. 

Judges needed for the competition this year on weekend of November 8-9, 2025 at Philadelphia’s City Hall. Judges are responsible for scoring student attorneys and witnesses as they compete in a mock trial. In some cases — depending on your preference — judges may be assigned to preside and rule on objections. No experience other than a basic understanding of rules of evidence is required.

We will be providing training sessions before each round to familiarize you with mock trial judging as well as light breakfast and lunch and — of course — the chance to watch some great mock trial!

There will be two rounds each day from 9:00-12:00 and 2:00-5:00 with the training sessions starting 30 minutes before each round. You may sign up for one, two, three, or even all four rounds. We ask that you are able to commit to the round(s) you indicate availability for as we are relying on you to show up and to help us make this the best tournament it can be.

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.

Philadelphia Bar Association members can now get discounted tickets to watch national soccer teams play at the Union Stadium!

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.

This CLE panel features attorneys who represent different faith traditions including representatives from the Muslim, Jewish and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints faith communities. Panelists utilize case studies to illuminate religious traditions and how accommodating religious observances will advance the values and work efficiency of the organization. Attendees will gain insight into religious traditions and be able to apply the knowledge learned to their own workplaces or to advise clients.

Join us for an informative discussion with legal recruiting leaders from top law firms as they share insights into the upcoming 1L and 2L hiring process. Learn what employers are looking for, how and when to prepare your application materials, and strategies for navigating OCI and other recruitment opportunities.

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.

The Philadelphia Bar Association’s Center for Innovation in the Practice of Law is hosting an interactive program designed to introduce lawyers to the responsible use of AI in the workplace. As AI systems rapidly advance in reasoning and problem-solving, lawyers can learn ways to leverage their capabilities.

The session will combine a dynamic presentation with hands-on exercises, giving participants the opportunity to apply curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking as they explore how AI can enhance their legal practices and business models.

On Wednesday, November 5, 2025 12-1 p.m. via Zoom the Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities (LRPD) Committee will host a presentation by PACT (Philadelphia Aphasia Community at Temple) during LRPD Committee's monthly meeting. Several members of PACT will share their experiences living with aphasia, a disability that affects communication. 

This presentation is specifically for an audience of lawyers and what PACT members would like them to know about the condition. More information about PACT can be found here: https://sites.temple.edu/pact/

To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please contact Sam Lyons at the Philadelphia Bar Association at slyons@philabar.org or (215) 238-6320. Please do your best to make your request 5 days in advance of the program. Otherwise, the Philadelphia Bar Association will still try to accommodate the request but may not have sufficient time. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Committee Co-chairs, Melissa Mazur at mmazuresq@gmail.com;  Anne Armistead at annearmistead@gmail.com; or Darlene Martin at darlmartin@pa.gov.

Start your mentorship journey with the Young Lawyers Division’s YLD Connections – Legal Mentorship Program. This event marks the official launch of a program designed to connect law students and young lawyers with experienced legal professionals for guidance, support, and real-world insight. Whether you’re looking to grow your network, gain practical advice, or build lasting professional relationships, the Kick-Off is the perfect opportunity to meet your mentor or mentee and begin your path forward in the legal field.

Don’t miss this chance to make meaningful connections and take the next step in your legal career!

This annual conference offers in-depth CLE discussions on legal and practice topics important to the federal court practice community in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The 2025 Federal Bench Bar Conference provides a forum for the interchange of ideas among the bench and bar, educates the bar regarding practice in the courts and encourages civility in the courts. This year, we will end the conference with a Joint Admissions Ceremony for attorneys in attendance that wish to become admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The 2025 Tax Section Annual Meeting will begin with a two-part CLE program that includes the all-important ethics credit. After the CLE concludes, join Association Tax Section members and colleagues to address the business of the Section and annual elections of the Tax Council, a keynote address, and an in-person reception.