For the better part of a decade the Family Court Help Center, staffed by Philadelphia Legal Assistance, has provided help to pro se litigants in family court. That vital assistance is in jeopardy due to the impending expiration of dedicated funding that will not be renewed. A working group from the Bar Association's Civil Gideon and Access to Justice Task Force has been meeting regularly for several months to secure short-term funding for this important resource and planning efforts to obtain reliable support for years to come. You can do your part by donating to PLA!

DEADLINE APPROACHING – Sign up by Feb. 1! New: Discounts available for public interest attorney members!

Travel with us to Alabama and Georgia and listen as participants in the Civil Rights movement tell their stories. Hear from insightful faculty about how legal cases and doctrine from the time still resonate today. Be inspired to continue the fight for equal access to justice. 

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

The Winter 2026 issue includes a conversation with Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas President Judge Nina Wright Padilla, a pro bono success story about the community impacts of unlawful discriminatory mortgage lending practices in the Greater Philadelphia area, and introduction of the 99th Chancellor Ezra Wohlgelernter.

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

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

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.

This year the Bar recognized attorneys Jeffrey S. Gross and Heather A. Sica as Bar Stars of the Workers’ Compensation Section. Those fortunate enough to know and practice alongside these two remarkable attorneys can attest to their professionalism, humility, and civility toward others on both the bench and bar. Their zealous advocacy, experience, and thorough knowledge of the Workers’ Compensation Act are a testament to them and a credit to the Bar. Their contributions to the Association and Section are no less impressive.

For lawyers, the relationship between love and our democracy should – indeed, must – run deep, with our commitment to the rule of law at the heart of our profession.

Happy New Year and welcome to an exciting new year with the Young Lawyers Division!

The Governor’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) is expanding their outreach to ensure that qualified law firms are aware of opportunities to provide legal services to Commonwealth agencies. If members or their firms are interested in being considered for future engagements, the OGC encourages them to register for eAlerts through PA eMarketplace, where all OGC legal services procurements are posted.

This year, Princeton Mock Trial (princetonmocktrial.org) is hosting their annual Moot Court tournament for high schoolers across the country on Saturday, April 11th, and Sunday, April 12th, 2026. The tournament features a simulation of a Supreme Court hearing, and during each round, teams of student attorneys will present oral arguments on a legal issue. Judges interrupt with questions about hypotheticals, court precedent, and/or the fact pattern and then score the students on a variety of categories; each round lasts about 45 minutes.

The competition is a great opportunity for high schoolers to get involved with the law at a young age, and they always look forward to the feedback they receive from the tournament judges.

Opportunities are available for those wishing to serve to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and their country on a part-time basis as an officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Anyone that is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and in good physical condition can apply. The benefits of serving are numerous. If interested in finding out more please contact Frank McGovern,  PA Army National Guard at frank.j.mcgovern.mil@army.mil or frankjmcgovern@msn.com.

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.

In today’s digital world, electronic evidence is everywhere. Emails, text messages, phone calls, cloud data, video footage, and online activity are continuously created and stored, often holding critical insight into legal disputes and investigations. When properly preserved and analyzed, this data (and the underlying metadata) can provide a clear and accurate picture of what truly occurred.

At bit-x-bit, our digital forensics team locates, collects, and analyzes evidence across computers, mobile devices, and cloud-based platforms. From recovering deleted files and messages to tracing USB activity and browsing histories, we reconstruct events using defensible forensic methods.

Our certified forensic examiners and legal professionals support matters ranging from data theft and non-compete enforcement to workplace investigations, criminal cases, bankruptcy, and commercial disputes. Using advanced tools and proven methodologies, we collect and examine the data while ensuring court-admissible results 

As digital evidence continues to shape modern cases, digital forensics isn’t optional, it’s essential. Contact bit-x-bit to learn how we can support your investigation.

For many mid-sized employers, one of the most overlooked challenges in their benefits strategy is also one of the most costly: employees simply don’t understand their benefits.  Studies consistently show that fewer than 40% of employees feel confident selecting or using their health plan.  For smaller and mid-sized organizations where every dollar of premium matters, benefits confusion can directly translate into higher claims, lower engagement, and diminished ROI.