News and policy impacting the legal profession from City Hall, Harrisburg and beyond.

Women’s History Month is more than reflection - it’s momentum. Here’s to the women who challenge the status quo, open doors wider, and make history every single day. Happy Women's History Month!

Recent events indicate the fragility and limitations of current federal legal protections for women. While legislation and court precedent provide some safeguards for women’s rights, women’s equality, arguably, is not an explicit part of the Constitution of the United States. Justice Scalia took that position in 2011 comments to the California Lawyer: “Certainly the Constitution does not require discrimination on the basis of sex. The only issue is whether it prohibits it. It doesn’t. Nobody ever thought that that’s what it meant. Nobody ever voted for that. If the current society wants to outlaw discrimination by sex, hey we have things called legislatures, and they enact things called laws.”

We hope you will join us this Thursday for an insightful program on the opportunities and challenges facing our justice system, and the important role the courts and all who interact with them, play in uplifting democracy.

The program includes:

– A keynote address by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Hon. Daniel D. McCaffery
– A panel discussion moderated by former U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent. Panelists include Hon. Mitchell S. Goldberg, former chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Hon. Anne E. Lazarus, president judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court; Hon. Thomas I. Vanaskie, former judge with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; and Hon. Nina Wright Padilla, president judge of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. 

We will also honor 98th Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari, and stand together as legal professionals and retake the Pennsylvania Attorney's Oath as part of a National Day of Action. The oath will be administered by Hon. Daniel J. Anders, administrative judge for the Trial Division of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. 

This year is a special one as the country celebrates its 250th birthday – with Philadelphia, as the birthplace of our nation, stepping into the spotlight. Last fall, Kathryn Ott Lovell, executive director of Philadelphia250, shared the vision, priorities, and progress of the city’s Semiquincentennial celebration.

Watch the video to learn how the legal community can meaningfully support and amplify the initiative. Gain insights into the strategic goals and civic impact of Philadelphia250, opportunities for engagement by firms and other legal organizations, sponsorship, and storytelling, and ways to align organizational values with the celebration’s themes of equity, innovation, and community.

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.

What does the Constitution mean to you? As the nation celebrates the semi quincentennial, tell us how our nation’s founding document has influenced and guided you as an attorney or as an individual, or describe a personal or professional experience informed by the Constitution or one of its amendments.

Submit at 300–700-word reflection to communications@philabar.org, along with a headshot for publication in a future issue of The Philadelphia Lawyer.

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 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.

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

Heavy Metal’s dining atmosphere is awesome; 70’s hard rock at a LeBan acceptable volume (I heard at least three killer Bon Scott era AC/DC tunes; sadly, Big Balls was not one of them). Heavy Metal utilizes every square inch of its cozy space – diners at the butcher block table are eating on the same surface where Alfiero’s monthly order of two whole cows are expertly carved up –and he explains every course in detail while Pellegrino serves a variety of inspired local booze. 

For many young and new attorneys, the early years of practice can feel like a balancing act. Between demanding workloads, client expectations, and personal commitments, it can be difficult to find time for anything beyond the next deadline. Yet one of the most valuable investments a young lawyer can make in their career is simple: engagement with fellow attorneys. 

On March 11, Chief Defender Keisha Hudson and Immigration Law Practice Chief Lilah Thompson invite you and your staff to learn about the Defender Association's work to represent noncitizens in criminal and noncriminal matters. They'll discuss the services they provide and answer any questions about how they can help you serve your constituents and communities.

The American Association for Justice (AAJ) is looking for lawyers in the Philadelphia area to judge our Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC), where law students take on the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a mock trial setting, which allows them to develop a deeper understanding of the skills and strategies needed to succeed as a trial lawyer.

AAJ is looking for lawyers from all areas of law.  AAJ membership is not required, nor is past mock trial experience. Lawyers will be judging the student’s advocacy skills. The Philadelphia region at City Hall (1400 John F Kennedy Blvd) will feature 18 teams from around the country. Each team will participate in three qualifying rounds, where they will represent both the plaintiff and defense sides of the case. From there, eight teams will advance to the semi-finals, then four teams to the finals. Two teams from the region will advance to the National Finals in New Orleans, LA March 26-29.  

We need at least three lawyers per courtroom to judge each round! 

For volunteer questions, please contact AAJ at STAC@justice.org

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.

Ready to make the most of the season? With Budget’s Winter SUV Sale, you can rent a roomy, comfortable SUV for just $59/day! Whether you're gearing up for a family winter getaway, planning a snowy weekend escape, or simply need extra space for cold‑weather gear, this deal has you covered.

Don’t let this limited‑time offer pass you by—reserve your SUV today and hit the winter roads with confidence! Deal ends March 25.

Save up to 40% OFF select appliances.

Plus, receive FREE DELIVERY on orders over $399.

Save an additional 10%^† with code REFRESH10.

Offer valid 2/26/26-3/18/26 on GE Appliances Store purchases only. Excludes small and countertop appliances. See Store for details.

Members can get 24/7 bilingual answering and intake services at the discounted rate of $2.25 per minute from LawyerLine.

On Friday March 13, 2026 12-1 p.m. via Zoom the Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities (LRPD) Committee will host Zach Strassburger and Elena Barrera-Waters from the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department during LRPD Committee's regular meeting. They will share information about the City’s recently updated Inclusive Language Guide, along with their work on ADA Compliance for the City.

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, Anne Armistead at annearmistead@gmail.com; Darlene Martin at darlmartin@pa.gov or Melissa Mazur at mmazuresq@gmail.com.

Celebrate Women’s History Month with the Women in the Profession Committee and the Women’s Rights Committee at a special joint happy hour. Enjoy great conversation, build connections, and toast to the achievements of women in our field and community.

Join fellow members of the Philadelphia Bar Association for a networking event hosted by M&T Bank & M&T Nota.