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! 

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari released a statement regarding the results of the November 4 general election.

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!

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**.

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!

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.

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

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 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."

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

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

The African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas invites members of The Philadelphia Bar Association to their annual Judicial Sunday Worship Service on Sunday, November 16, 2025 at 10:00AM. This special service celebrates and blesses members of the judiciary for their invaluable service and steadfast commitment to justice and the rule of law.

Location: 6361 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19151

Please RSVP to the church office at 215-473-3065 or via email at 1792@aecst.org confirm your attendance. We look forward to worshipping with you.

Every year HIAS PA helps our newest arrivals celebrate their first Thanksgiving by inviting them to a meal prepared and served by our volunteers. Together we break bread, teach the newcomers about this uniquely American holiday and celebrate being together.

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.

Please join the Chancellor and the International Law Committee on Monday, November 10, from 12:30-2:00 p.m., for a virtual panel discussion concerning the ongoing sanctions imposed on members of the legal community associated with the International Criminal Court (“ICC”). The attacks issued by the U.S. government upon the ICC and its practitioners raise serious rule of law concerns for everyone—not just the international law community. The sanctions’ effects cross national borders and legal disciplines, alike, reaching all the way to Philadelphia’s attorneys, academics, and nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs").

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.

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. 

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 Real Property Section invites you to join them on Tuesday, November 18, at the Pyramid Club for an evening of networking and recognition.

We will proudly recognize and celebrate the achievements of our 2025 honorees, presenting the prestigious Ominsky Award and the Good Deed Award.

Join us on Wednesday, December 3 for our 2025 Workers' Compensation Section Holiday Celebration! We will be collecting toy donations for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program in Philadelphia. Please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy to help brighten the holidays for children in our community.

Join the Philadelphia Bar Association's Wellness Committee for an inspiring evening of candle making and positive affirmations at State of Being Candle Store!

This BYOB candle-making class invites you to design two custom affirmation candles. Explore the curated scent wall, learn to blend your own signature fragrance, and uncover the science behind affirmations. You’ll leave with two beautifully handcrafted candles, each infused with your personal intention and positive energy.

Join the Probate and Trust Law Section for it's Annual Meeting and Reception on Thursday, December 4, at the Westin Philadelphia. Connect with colleagues, reflect on the year's accomplishments, and enjoy an evening of conversation.

Celebrate the season with us! On December 9, the Family Law Section Annual Reception returns to the elegant Arts Ballroom. Reconnect with friends, enjoy good company. We will also recognize the Honorable Deborah Canty, our 2025 recipient of the Herbert R. Weiman Sr. & Jr. Award