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.
The annual Bar Run continues to be a must-attend event for lawyers and many who work at law firms around the Philadelphia legal community. The 47th Annual Philadelphia Bar Association 5K Run|Walk in Fairmount Park will be no different. This year, we are also excited to introduce a new charity partner for the Bar Run: Anchors, an Inperium Foundation. It is always one of my favorite days of the year and will be held on May 17, and registration is now open for team and individual entries.
News
As counsel to Sen. Joseph McCarthy and a mentor to a future president, Cohn helped pioneer a style of character assassination that stains the legal profession to this day.
Don't miss the opportunity to build a more perfect practice: Join us September 17-18 at the 2026 Philadelphia Bar Association Bench-Bar & Annual Conference!
This year, we are holding Bench-Bar in Philadelphia, to celebrate the unique history of our city and to highlight the lasting legacy of Philadelphia lawyers in our country's 250th year. Hone your skills with relevant and timely CLEs, hear from insightful and prominent speakers, and build relationships with your fellow legal professionals.
As the fight for justice continues, we all have a unique role to play. We hope you will join us to celebrate history, to affirm our commitment to democracy, and to enjoy learning and socializing with our community.
FIND YOUR COURSE TODAY
- Live webcasts that can be taken from anywhere
- On-Demand courses available 24/7
- Grow in your practice, reset, and refresh with us!
This year's Bar Run will benefit the Anchors Foundation. Established in 2019 in honor of Carol Camp and her courageous fight against ovarian cancer, Anchors strives to ease the challenges that come with a cancer diagnosis by arranging household services for families navigating treatment, providing transportation and lodging for appointments, and funding ovarian cancer research.
The Bar Run is a family friendly day that includes the 5K Run Individual Competition, 5K Run Team Competition, Philadelphia Bar Association Member Competition, and the Buchanan Kids Dash!
Have questions about team registration? Follow these step-by-step instructions: Team Leader Guide and Team Participant Guide
If you have an ethics question, please call (215) 238-6328 and a member of the Professional Guidance Committee will assist you.
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.
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.
Features
A roundup of the latest activity taking place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
The Spring 2026 issue includes a conversation with the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, Zane David Memeger, the 2025 Hon. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “Pursuit of Justice” Legal Writing Competition winning essay, the 25th anniversary of Marshall Dennehey’s Advanced Trial Advocacy & Mock Trial Program, and much more.
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
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
Public Interest Spotlight
As hard as it may be to believe, many Americans – particularly those born in rural areas in the South – were never issued birth certificates. Some were delivered by midwives who didn’t follow through on their obligation to notify the state; others learned that their birth documentation was destroyed by a fire or other unexpected event prior to registration; still others somehow fell through the bureaucratic cracks. One way or another, they often have spent decades living life without official proof of identity, because the lack of a birth certificate – or a government-issued photo ID, for that matter – didn’t prevent them from getting a social security card, earning a living, renting an apartment or the like.
As a state-based public interest legal organization focused on gender equality and justice, Women’s Law Project knows it’s important to recognize that the LGBTQIA+ community, especially trans youth, has a long history of fighting for their own rights. While we’re proud to improve and leverage the law to, as the hashtag-ready slogan goes, “defend trans kids,” our expanding trans-rights work also honors a deep legacy of LGBTQIA+ youth fighting for their own rights and dignity—long before public interest legal infrastructure was fully established in Philadelphia and before legal support for LGBTQIA+ kids was readily available.
Around Our Community
Philly VIP will be hosting a Small Business Legal Clinic on April 21, and we invite attorneys interested in supporting local entrepreneurs and small business owners to volunteer!
Clinic Details
Date: Tuesday, April 21
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Blank Rome, 310 N. 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Volunteer attorneys will provide brief legal guidance to small business owners on a range of issues impacting their operations and growth. This is a great opportunity to support the small business community while offering meaningful pro bono service.
Please direct any questions to Robin Miles at rmiles@phillyvip.org.
Join The Barristers' Association of Philadelphia for the 2026 Annual Awards & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, May 2 at 6 PM at The Grand Belle at The Bellevue.
Now in its 76th year, the Barristers' has long been a cornerstone of Philadelphia's legal community, advocating for civil rights and supporting the professional development of Black attorneys. The Annual Awards & Scholarship Gala is one of the most anticipated evenings in the Philadelphia legal calendar, bringing together lawyers, judges, law students, and community leaders for a night of recognition, celebration, and impact.
Benefits and Partner Spotlight
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:
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.
Your Philadelphia Bar Association ODP Savings Program has upgraded and improved its member pricing, giving you better everyday value on a wider range of products you purchase most.
As part of this update, members now receive discounts up to 50% off ODP Business stocked items, with deeper savings across key categories including paper, ink, toner, breakroom essentials, facilities supplies, technology, furniture and more.
Your Philadelphia Bar Association Avis and Budget Car Rental Savings Program is bringing you the most flexible savings ever. For the first time, you can enjoy up to 35% off base rates, whether you choose Pay Now for maximum savings or Pay Later for stress‑free flexibility.
Your program also includes exclusive benefits like double upgrades (where available), special member offers, and complimentary enrollment in Avis Preferred® and Budget Fastbreak®—allowing you to skip the counter and start your trip faster at most participating airport locations.
Lock in your reservation by April 30, 2026, and rent by June 15, 2026
To make a reservation with Avis, visit the link below and be sure to use your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number D423501 to collect these discounts.
To book with Budget, visit the link below and be sure to use your Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number D836601 and collect these discounts.
Save up to 41% OFF select appliances
Plus, receive FREE DELIVERY on orders over $399.
Save an additional 15%† with code SPRING15.
Offer valid 4/16/26 – 5/6/26 on GE Appliances Store purchases only. Excludes small and countertop appliances. See Store for details.
Featured CLEs & Events
YLD Connections is hosting an engaging and energizing event designed to equip you with the knowledge and tools to make confident money decisions at any stage of life. Featuring a presentation by Creative Financial Group, we'll be exploring Managing Student Debt, Maximizing Workplace Benefits, Creating a Budget, and Overall Financial Wellness. The presentation will be followed by an interactive Q&A session — giving you actionable insights you can start using right away.
The Philadelphia Bar Association in conjunction with the Justinian Society of Philadelphia are pleased to invite you to an event hosting Italian Lawyers and Judges as part of Temple's EFLIT Program! They are visiting the United States to learn about our legal system and we hope you can join us in showing them a warm Philadelphia welcome.
**advance registration is required by Monday, April 27 at 5pm**
“The Inside Track” is a focused series of expert, peer-facilitated conversations illuminating the unique path of in-house counsel. Each session explores pivotal transitions, mindset shifts, and specialized communication strategies needed for lawyers to succeed in the corporate world. On May 8, the conversation will cover the business mindset, and adapting to think as a business-minded legal partner. Marc Esterow will be doing the welcome address on May 8.
The panelists are:
Dredeir Roberts, fractional general counsel and AI governance professional at Drédeir Law, Katherine Kelton, of Kelton Graham, LLC, and Geneva Brown, Vice President of Corporate Impact at The Cigna Group. Moderating is 2025 Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathy Jaffari, shareholder at Cozen O'Connor!
Lunch will be provided by our gracious hosts, Cozen O'Connor!
Spring is here, and it’s time to mix and mingle!
Come out to Uptown Beer Garden on Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30pm with the Young Lawyers Division, Probate & Trust, and Tax Section for drinks, great conversation, and a chance to connect with fellow attorneys.
We hope to see you there!
