PBA News & Information

Members, Don't Miss the PBA Annual Meeting in Hershey, May 12-14!
The 2010 Annual Meeting offers prominent speakers, networking opportunities and excellent CLE programs and includes the Women in the Profession Conference, the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Annual Meeting and PBA Committee/Section Day, all at the Hershey Lodge in Hershey, May 12-14. Click here for the event brochure. Click here to make your reservations at the Hershey Lodge.

PBA President Names Commission to Review State Constitution
PBA President Clifford E. Haines has appointed the association's new Constitutional Review Commission, chaired by former Commonwealth Court President Judge James Gardner Colins and charged with reviewing the Pennsylvania Constitution and recommending ways to improve state government. Click here for the news release. Click here for video of PBA President Haines.

PBA Minority Attorney Conference March 18-19
The 22nd Annual PBA Minority Attorney Conference, March 18-19 at The Westin Philadelphia, will feature a variety of engaging panel discussions. Click here for the tentative agenda and registration form. Also featured will be the presentation of the 2010 A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award to retired U.S. District Court Judge James T. Giles. Click here for a press release on the award. Conference attendees can earn up to seven hours of CLE credit. Thomas E. Perez, assistant U.S. attorney general for civil rights, will deliver the keynote address. The conference is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.

2010 PBA/YLD High School Mock Trial Competition
Hundreds of state high school teams from across Pennsylvania are competing in the 27th annual Statewide Mock Trial Competition sponsored by the PBA Young Lawyers Division. Click here for a news release on the competition. Click here for additional information. Important dates: March 1-20, district and regional play-offs.

PBA Members Encouraged to Oppose State Sales Tax on Legal Services
Responding to the proposed broadening of the state sales tax to include professional legal services, PBA President Clifford E. Haines has written to state House and Senate leaders expressing opposition to the tax. Read the letter. PBA members also are encouraged to write to their legislators in opposition to the tax proposal. Find a sample letter by clicking on the members-only Legislative Action Center link on the PBA Legislative News page.

PBA Commission on Women in the Profession Hosts Midyear Meetings in March
Under the theme "Marketing Yourself from the Inside Out: Show Your Professionalism, Know Your Talents and Promote Your Legal Skills," the PBA Commission on Women in the Profession hosts three regional Midyear Meetings in March. Click here for more information. Attendees are asked to bring their no-longer-used wireless phones and other electronic devices to the meetings. Items collected will assist domestic violence shelters through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine®. Find out more.

May 3 is PBA Day on the Hill
PBA members, come to Harrisburg May 3 to meet with state legislators and share your opinions about critical law practice-related legislation during PBA Day on the Hill. The day includes a session outlining key legislative issues, visits to legislators' offices, CLE and a reception with legislators in the Capitol Rotunda. PBA Day on the Hill is a joint effort of the PBA Young Lawyers Division and the PBA Legislative Department. Look for details and registration information to be posted here and in future issues of the PBA E-News and the Pennsylvania Bar News.

Local Bar Association Programs Honored
Recognizing bar associations from across Pennsylvania, the Conference of County Bar Leaders has presented awards to 26 local bar associations for programs to improve the legal profession, justice system and community. Click here for the news release on the awards.

Civil Litigation Section Annual Retreat April 16-18
The Civil Litigation Section holds its 2010 Annual Retreat at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Md., April 16-18. Click here for links to the event brochure and registration form.

PBA President Testifies Before Juvenile Justice Commission
PBA President Clifford E. Haines has offered testimony before the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice during its hearings on the Luzerne County Court system. Read Haines's statement.

Philadelphia to Host the 2010 National Mock Trial Competition
The 2010 National Mock Trial Championship Tournament will be held May 6-9 in Philadelphia, with Drexel University, a proud partner of the PBA Young Lawyers Division-sponsored Statewide Mock Trial Competition, acting as a leadership sponsor of the event. Click here to connect to the special 2010 National Mock Trial Web site and make a donation. Click here for the list of donor-sponsors of the event. If you prefer to show your support by highlighting your firm or cheering on a local mock trial team, how about placing an ad in the event's awards dinner program? Click here for details and the ad order form. Click here here for an article on this worthwhile event, and click here for an article on how to support the tournament.

PBA Recognizes Donors to PAC, Legislative Effort
The PBA gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the organizations and individuals who have recognized the importance of building and maintaining the PBA political action committee (PABAR-PAC) and legislative program. Click here for the current list of contributors.

Nominations Sought for the ...
�Louis J. Goffman Awards: The Pennsylvania Bar Foundation is accepting nominations for the awards honoring an individual and an organization for commitment to pro bono service. Click here for more information and the nomination form. Nominations deadline: April 15.
�Pro Bono, Judges and Civil Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Awards: The PBA Legal Services to the Public Committee is seeking nominees for the 23rd Annual Pro Bono Awards, 6th Annual Judges Award and the Civil Legal Aid Attorney of the Year Award. Click here for more information. Nominations deadline: April 15.

Foundation Seeks County Grant Applications
The Pennsylvania Bar Foundation is seeking applications from county bar associations for Birdsall County Bar Impact Grants of up to $1,000. Click here for more information and the grant application on the foundation Web site. Applications deadline: April 15.

PBA Plans Month-Long Law Day Celebration in May
This year the PBA celebrates our 11th year of Law Day activities under the theme "Rule of Law: It's what I live by." Through classroom visits by lawyers and judges during the month of May and free law-related lesson plans, each year the PBA and county bar associations work with schools to educate young people about their legal rights and responsibilities. Click here for Law Day 2010 program information. Law Day activities are supported by the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation.

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