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!

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.

A new chapter of service begins with our 99th Chancellor, Ezra Wohlgelernter. Catch a glimpse into the leadership shaping the future of our legal community.

In July, the Public Interest Law Center and Stapleton Segal Cochran LLC, a Philadelphia- and Marlton-based litigation boutique, combined in a pro bono effort as amicus curiae to block efforts by the Department of Justice to prematurely end a federal consent decree involving alleged housing discrimination.  Under the 2023 consent decree, a private bank, ESSA Bank & Trust (“ESSA”), had agreed to take several steps over five years to remedy its alleged geographic and financial discrimination against communities in the Philadelphia region.  

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Philadelphia Bar Association and YLD Connections Board invite you to join Brian Levinson from Alevistar Legal Search for an informative and engaging session. The event will begin with recognition of the 2025 Diversity Scholarship recipients, followed by a presentation on navigating the legal job market and developing an effective resume. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session and engage in networking with mentors, mentees, and peers, fostering meaningful professional connections.

**advance registration is required**

We gratefully thank Alevistar for supporting this program and advancing professional development in the legal community.

The Social Security Committee will be hosting an in-person Dinner Service for Homeless Individuals at Chosen 300 Ministries on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.

Volunteers should dress comfortably with sneakers and will assist with serving dinner and cleaning up after the meal. Chosen 300 Ministries is a wonderful organization dedicated to bringing people together across differences to provide meals and services to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout the Philadelphia region and beyond.

For those interested, donations to support Chosen 300 Ministries and their mission may be made here:
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=XZCW9J8GATRWW