Philadelphia Bar Association | Today's News

Chief Justice Castille, Other Members of Civil Legal Justice Coalition to Speak on Plight of Low-income Pennsylvanians Without Legal Representation at Public Hearing of Pa Senate Judiciary Committee May 23

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille will offer remarks along with other judges, low-income Pennsylvanians and the lawyers who help them, and community and business leaders at a Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee Public Hearing, "Civil Legal Representation of the Indigent: Have We Achieved Equal Access to Justice?" on Thursday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, in the 11th floor Conference Center. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-Montgomery, Bucks) will chair the hearing.

Chief Justice Castille is the Honorary Chair of a broad-based "Civil Legal Justice Coalition" created to work collaboratively on exploring strategies to improve access to justice. The 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association and 28,000-member Pennsylvania Bar Association are among the organizations that are part of the Coalition.

Among those expected to testify at the hearing are a number of low-income clients, and key stakeholders including: Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Chancellor, Philadelphia Bar Association; Sister Mary Scullion, Co-Founder, Project HOME; Hon. Margaret T. Murphy, Supervising Judge, Family Division, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; Hon. Annette M. Rizzo, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas; and Catherine C. Carr, Executive Director, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision Gideon v. Wainwright establishing the right to counsel for the indigent in serious criminal matters. Few such Gideon-type rights have been recognized in civil matters where basic human needs such as shelter, safety, health, sustenance and child custody are at stake. Meanwhile, the demand has surged for civil legal representation on behalf of the poor, whose ranks have swelled following one of the worst recessions in the nation's history. Those needs have been largely unmet due to a "perfect storm" of sustained, repeated and severe cuts in federal and state funding and a tight private fund-raising environment that have resulted in layoffs of legal aid staff and office closings. The gulf between client need and availability of legal help has been termed "the civil justice gap."

State and national studies estimate that a staggering 80 percent of critical legal needs of low-income people go unmet due to grossly insufficient funding and support.

The purpose of the public hearing is to explore and create awareness of the current state and scope of the unmet need for civil legal services by low-income Pennsylvanians confronting legal problems involving basic human needs. Three hearings on the issue are being held by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The first hearing was held on May 7 in Harrisburg. Video and audio recordings of the May 7 hearing are available on the website of the Senate Judiciary Committee at http://pasenategop.com/committees/judiciary/2013/050713/agenda.htm. A complete witness list and copies of the testimony presented at the hearing are available at the Civil Gideon Corner of the Philadelphia Bar Association's website at http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/CivilGideon?appNum=1. A future hearing will be scheduled in Pittsburgh.

Public interest agency clients with serious legal problems impacting their basic human needs and those of their families - individuals without access to an attorney or who otherwise could not have been helped without access to an attorney - will share their personal stories of struggle at the hearing. Additionally, key stakeholders will testify regarding the legal community's ethical obligations to the civil side of justice and discuss the adverse impact of the growing civil justice gap, including the economic and social harm (direct and/or indirect) when critical legal needs are unmet as well as the economic and social benefits to the community when such needs are met.

It is anticipated that the hearing will elicit information about how the substantial number of unrepresented litigants in civil legal matters adversely impacts the quality of justice for all parties in Pennsylvania courts, increases the amount of litigation and undermines the rule of law. Additionally, the hearing is expected to explore how the unmet need for civil legal assistance is profoundly impacting vulnerable Pennsylvanians and costing taxpayers millions of dollars by increasing homelessness, failing to prevent domestic violence and increasing poverty. In these difficult economic times, current funding is inadequate to meet the critical need for civil legal assistance in the state.

"Equal access to legal representation is one of the most critical justice issues we face today," said Senator Greenleaf. "I am pleased to see the Commonwealth's legal community come together to offer their insights and recommendations to the Judiciary Committee on this important matter. In recent years, we have seen the number of individuals seeking assistance increase and funding disappear due to the economic downturn. I would like to thank the Bar Associations of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania for their dedicated work for equal access to justice for all Pennsylvanians."

AG Kane to Speak at Nonprofit Institute May 22

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Join the Pennsylvania Bar Institute for the 11th Annual Nonprofit Institute in Philadelphia on Wednesday, May 22 as we kick off this year's Institute with a dynamic keynote address by Honorable Kathleen G. Kane, Attorney General of Pennsylvania. Be there for a day of informative and energetic discussion examining the most current issues impacting the nonprofit sector. Click here to register.

Gun Control Debate CLE May 23

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Former Mayor and Governor Ed Rendell will be the the moderator for the Thursday, May 23 CLE program "The Gun Control Debate."

Hear from Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey, representatives of the NRA and the Brady Center, and other advocates for and against gun control legislation! Click here to register.

Justice O'Connor to Speak at June 12 Quarterly Meeting

Wed, 8 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will be on hand when the award named in her honor is presented to Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Anne E. Lazarus at the June 12 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon. U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, a previous recipient of the O'Connor Award, will deliver the Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Public Interest Lecture at the event.

"We are thrilled that Justice O'Connor, the first woman to sit on our nation's high court, will be on hand for the 20th anniversary presentation of the award named in her honor," said Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson.

The 2013 O'Connor Award recipient, Judge Lazarus, was elected to Superior Court in 2009 and served as a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1991 to 2009. She also served as legal counsel to the Philadelphia Orphans Court before being voted onto the bench and practiced in the estates department at Ballard Spahr LLP.

The O'Connor Award is conferred annually on a woman attorney who has demonstrated superior legal talent, achieved significant legal accomplishments and has furthered the advancement of women in both the profession and the community.

Judge Rendell, recipient of the 2004 Sandra Day O'Connor Award, began her legal career at Duane, Morris & Heckscher, where she became the firm's second woman partner. She was appointed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1994 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1997.

The Association will also honor the newest members of the Year Clubs, attorneys who have been in practice for 50 years or more.

The June 12 Quarterly Meeting begins at 12 p.m. at the Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets. Purchase tickets at philadelphiabar.org.

The June Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon is sponsored by PNC Wealth Management.

"Civil Justice Gap" Stories from Low-income Pennsylvanians Without Legal Representation to Highlight Public Hearing of Pa. Senate Judiciary Committee May 7

Tue, 7 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Low-income Pennsylvanians and the lawyers who help them will testify along with community and business leaders and judges at a Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee Public Hearing, "Civil Legal Representation of the Indigent: Have We Achieved Equal Access to Justice?" on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 8E-B in the East Wing of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-Montgomery, Bucks) will chair the hearing.

State and national studies estimate that a staggering 80 percent of critical legal needs of low-income people go unmet due to grossly insufficient funding and support.

Public interest agency clients with serious legal problems impacting their basic human needs and those of their families – individuals without access to an attorney or who otherwise could not have been helped without access to an attorney – will share their personal stories of struggle at the hearing. Additionally, key stakeholders will testify regarding the legal community's ethical obligations to the civil side of justice and discuss the adverse impact of the growing civil justice gap, including the economic and social harm (direct and/or indirect) when critical legal needs are unmet as well as the economic and social benefits to the community when such needs are met.

The 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association and 28,000-member Pennsylvania Bar Association are among the organizations that are part of a broad-based "Civil Legal Justice Coalition" created to work collaboratively on exploring strategies to improve access to justice. The Honorary Chair of the Coalition is Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille.

Among those expected to testify at the hearing are a number of low-income clients, and key stakeholders including Thomas G. Wilkinson, President, Pennsylvania Bar Association; Samuel W. Milkes, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.); Hon. Chester T. Harhut, Judge, Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, and President of the PLAN, Inc. Board of Directors; Hon. Todd A. Hoover, President Judge, Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas; Rhodia D. Thomas, Executive Director of MidPenn Legal Services; Bill Rothman, Founder, RSR Realtors; Andrew F. Susko, Chair, Pennsylvania Interest On Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Board; and Elaine Strokoff, Executive Director, Downtown Daily Bread.

A second Senate Judiciary Committee Public Hearing on Civil Legal Representation of the Indigent will be held on Thursday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, in the 11th floor Conference Center.

Career Wardrobe to Honor Wilkinson June 5

Mon, 6 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson will accept this year’s Fashioning Futures for Women Award at Career Wardrobe's annual fundraising auction and fashion show, "A Perfect Fit: Celebrating a Story of a Suit" on Wednesday, June 5 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia. The Fashioning Futures for Women Award honors a woman who demonstrates a commitment to empowering women, inspiring confidence and assisting women pursue successful careers. The event is hosted by Marilyn Russell of BEN-FM's Women to Watch, and Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor and Chief of Staff, City of Philadelphia.

Individual tickets and corporate tables may be purchased at: http://careerwardrobe.org/donate/financial-support/a-perfect-fit/

Save the Date: Friends of Farmworkers Reception

Sun, 5 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Friends of Farmworkers will celebrate, honor and thank FOF General Counsel Arthur Read and outgoing Board members Dan Sipe, Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Kenneth I. Trujillo and Louis S. Rulli for their outstanding service to the organization. The event, an evening of cocktails and antojitos mexicanos, will take place on Tuesday, June 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Tequilas, 1602 Locust St. For more information, call 215-733-0878.

Judge Lazarus to Receive O'Connor Award at June 12 Quarterly

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Anne E. Lazarus will be presented with the Association's Sandra Day O'Connor Award at the Wednesday, June 12 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon.

U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O. Rendell will deliver the Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Public Interest Lecture at the program and the association will honor the newest members of the Year Clubs, Association members who have been practicing law for 50 years or more. As previously announced, Justice O’Connor will also be in attendance at the meeting.

Judge Lazarus was elected to Superior Court in 2009 and served as a judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1991 to 2009.

The June Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon is sponsored by PNC Wealth Management.

Testimony of Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson April 18

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Judge Rendell to Deliver Higginbotham Lecture June 12

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie O. Rendell will deliver the Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Public Interest Lecture at the Association’s Wednesday, June 12 Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon.

The Association will also present the 2013 Sandra Day O'Connor Award at the program and honor the newest members of the Year Clubs, Association members who have been practicing law for 50 years or more. As previously announced, Justice O’Connor will also be in attendance at the meeting.

Judge Higginbotham was the first African American to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, who also served as chief judge of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. A legal and civics giant and scholar, he was a lifelong champion of individual rights, with a career that spanned nearly half a century.

The June 12 Quarterly Meeting begins at 12 p.m. at the Hyatt at The Bellevue, Broad and Walnut streets.

The June Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon is sponsored by PNC Wealth Management.

Bench-Bar Returning to Revel Oct. 4-5

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Revel, the Atlantic City casino resort that hosted the Philadelphia Bar Association's wildly successful and popular 2012 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference, will host this year's conference on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5, 2013.

The Bench-Bar & Annual Conference provides attendees with the opportunity to earn continuing legal education credit while networking with colleagues and members of the bench. Hundreds of attorneys and judges are expected to attend.

Maria A. Feeley, a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, and Julia Swain, a partner with Fox Rothschild LLP, are co-chairs of the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference. Bench-Bar Committee vice chairs are John Encarnacion, an associate at White and Williams LLP; Scott W. Reid, a partner with Cozen O'Connor; and Mindee J. Reuben, a partner with Weinstein Kitchenoff & Asher LLC.

A new addition to this year's conference will be a Law Practice Management track among the 21 CLE seminars that will be offered. Another highlight of the weekend will be the Friday night reception at Revel's HQ nightclub. Prices for the 2013 edition of the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference are being kept at 2012 levels.

Sponsors for the 2013 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference include USI Affinity; JAMS, The Resolution Experts; Insurance Adjustment Bureau, Inc; M. Burr Keim Company; Robson Forensic, Inc.; US Claims Inc.; AppearByPhone and The MCS Group. For sponsorship information, contact Tracey McCloskey at 215-238-6360 or tmccloskey@philabar.org.

Philadelphia Bar Receives Grant From ABA Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The Philadelphia Bar Association announced on March 21 that it has received formal approval from the American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education for a grant as part of the ABA’s Access to Justice Commission Expansion Project.

The grant application was submitted by Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson on behalf of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Civil Gideon and Access to Justice Task Force, with letters of support from Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Pennsylvania IOLTA and the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network.

The funding will be used to support ongoing efforts to create a broad-based statewide coalition including the Pennsylvania Bar Association and other key stakeholders to work collaboratively on improving access to justice; to plan and conduct a series of statewide public hearings to generate greater public awareness and understanding of the civil justice gap crisis; to identify various solutions to close the justice gap; and to explore whether Pennsylvania should implement an Access to Justice Commission.

“We are delighted that the Pennsylvania Bar Association and other key stakeholders will partner with us on this very important work, in order to explore strategies to improve access to justice, the issue of civil Gideon and the civil justice gap,” said Wilkinson “Chief Justice Castille has been very supportive of this vital work. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is expected to play a key role in this project, including providing testimony during the statewide hearings that will be planned by the legislative branch."

“The ABA grant is an important first step in the collaboration of our Task Force with the Pennsylvania Bar Association and many others to launch a series of statewide hearings on the need for counsel for low-income individuals in adversarial proceedings where fundamental needs, such as housing and a parent’s access to children, are at stake,” said Joseph A. Sullivan, co-chair of the Civil Gideon and Access to Justice Task Force. “The goals of the hearings, to be chaired by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf and the Senate Judiciary Committee, include learning much more about the difficulties many face in achieving access to justice, and hearing a broad range of perspectives on the consequences of the inability to retain counsel on families, such as loss of jobs, breakdown in family integrity and economic disruption. Our goals also include learning more about the broader impact of lack of counsel on communities and economies – both locally and statewide. We hope to educate the broadest possible audience about these issues, and the benefits of expanding access to justice to everyone in the community,” he said.

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Gideon decision, we are thrilled to have this support to move forward a statewide effort to build access to justice for all on the civil side,” added Task Force Co-Chair Catherine C. Carr.

The formation of the statewide coalition will be completed in the coming weeks and a series of strategic meetings will be held to explore how an Access to Justice Commission may improve access to justice.

Access to Justice Commissions are formal entities that bring together the highest level of the state’s courts, organized bar and other stakeholders to support the expansion of access to civil justice for low-income and disadvantaged people. As of March 15, there were Access to Justice Commissions in 27 states and the District of Columbia. Most of the Commissions were created by those state’s Supreme Court.

Access to Justice Commissions have been proven to have a major impact in expanding support for self-represented litigants in the courts; increasing state-level funding for civil legal aid; developing new initiatives to increase pro bono services by attorneys; promoting collaboration and coordination among civil legal aid providers; building a commitment to pro bono and support for legal aid among law students and new lawyers; and increasing awareness among legislators and other key decision makers, the bar, the judiciary and the general public about the legal needs of low-income and disadvantaged people and the social and economic benefits of ensuring that they do not go unmet.

Statement of Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson on the Announced May 1 Resignation of Suspended Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0400

"On behalf of the 13,000 members of the Philadelphia Bar Association, I urge Governor Corbett to nominate, and send to the state Senate for consideration, a qualified candidate to fill the vacancy created by Justice Orie Melvin’s resignation as soon as possible, so that the state Supreme Court can be restored to its full complement of seven justices to ensure unfettered access to justice for the citizens of Pennsylvania."

Statement of Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson on the Conviction of Suspended Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

"This is a sad day for the justice system in Pennsylvania," said Kathleen D. Wilkinson, Chancellor of the 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association.

"Jurors in the trial of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin have found that she is guilty on six of the seven counts against her.

"Today’s conviction only underscores the need for changing the way appellate judges are selected in Pennsylvania. When judges are forced to engage in election campaigning requiring large sums of money to be raised, citizens become concerned that those judges are then beholden to campaign contributors, party officials and special interests. As a result, many citizens question whether they will receive fair treatment in a court of law.

"The Philadelphia Bar Association has long supported a merit-based, appointive system of selecting appellate court judges. Through such a system, the best qualified candidates are sought out based on stringent standards, and those who are unqualified to serve are eliminated from consideration.

"The time has come to stop electing appellate court judges, to restore the confidence of the electorate in our judicial system, and to open the process to a wider and more diverse pool of well-qualified candidates, by adopting a system of merit selection for the election of judges in Pennsylvania.

"We are hopeful that the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will soon return to its full complement of seven justices."

Chancellor Urges City to Delay Implementation of Conflicts Counsel Reforms

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0500

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson sent the following letter Feb. 21 to Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Everett A. Gillison urging the City to delay implementation of proposed reforms in the system of providing legal representation for indigent defendants, in order to more thoroughly consider possible models and alternatives.

Click here to read the Chancellor's letter.

Chancellor Issues Statement on Traffic Court Indictments

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

The 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association released the following statement from Chancellor Kathleen D. Wilkinson regarding the indictment announced today of nine current or former Philadelphia Traffic Court judges and others.

"This is a sad day for the justice system in Pennsylvania. The charges against these Traffic Court judges and others who have been indicted today cast a shadow on the court that compromises the ability for justice to be dispensed fairly. These indictments, while allegations are pending, raise serious concerns about equal access to justice for thousands of Philadelphians. It is imperative that the Traffic Court's sitting judges who have been indicted resign immediately to maintain the integrity of our justice system. Any implication of favoritism through a selective meting out of unequal justice merits swift condemnation.

We respect the work done by Traffic Court Administrative Judge Gary S. Glazer to enact measures to restore integrity and public confidence in the operations of the court, and believe an overhaul of Traffic Court is needed so that justice is dispensed fairly and without favoritism."

New Professional Liability Insurance Coming for Bar Members

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0500

With the new year comes an exciting change to the Philadelphia Bar Association's Insurance Program - a new and much-improved lawyers' professional liability product offering.

Over the course of the last year, USI Affinity, the Association's exclusively endorsed insurance broker, worked with the Association to review its professional liability insurance offering. When it was determined that improvements were needed, an RFP process was undertaken. That process included soliciting and reviewing proposals from potential new carriers, interviewing carriers and then making a decision on a carrier and product. At the end of that process, USI Affinity recommended that the program be switched from the current carrier, Westport/Swiss Re to CNA. That recommendation was approved by the Association's Board of Governors at its November 2012 meeting. Policies that renew on or after April 1, 2013 will now be written with CNA.

Part of the reason for making the decision to switch the endorsement was CNA's position as a leader in providing professional liability insurance to law firms, with more than 50 years of experience and more than 44,000 firms insured nationwide. Their underwriting and claims teams are committed to a "customer first" approach, and their risk control resources provide both up to date and very practical assistance in running a practice while avoiding professional liability claims.

Another consideration was making the new offering more affordable for Association members. CNA has designed its rates for this program to be lower than expiring premiums in the current program. In addition, Association members will benefit from a new credit providing 5 percent off a firm's professional liability premium. For each attorney in a firm who is a Philadelphia Bar Association member, the firm will receive a 5 percent credit on that attorney's pro-rata share of the firm’s premium. In addition, CNA is offering a 7.5 percent risk management credit per attorney (in the same manner as the Association membership credit) for two years after taking the risk control program given by the Association's Insurance Programs Committee. This combination should result in significant savings for program participants.

Finally, the policy form is improved over that provided under the current program, being significantly better in some areas. Full details about the new offering will be coming soon, and members will have the information needed to make an informed decision when it is time to renew their professional liability coverage. If your firm is currently insured through the Philadelphia Bar Association program with Westport Insurance Company, USI Affinity advises that the transition will take place as follows:

• In the near future, your firm will be receiving a Non Renewal notice from Westport Insurance Company. You do not need to be concerned: this is a legal requirement and simply part of the transition process to the new program underwritten by CNA.

• Your current coverage underwritten by Westport is not cancelled and you will not be without coverage. Your coverage will continue with Westport until your policy Expiration Date.

• USI Affinity will remain your broker and administrator and will transition your coverage to the new CNA policy when your current policy expires. Here is how that will work:

• Approximately 90 days prior to your Professional Liability policy's expiration date, you will receive your CNA renewal package from USI Affinity.

• This package is designed to make the transition to CNA as easy as possible for your firm. It will contain a simplified renewal application for your firm to complete.

• Simply follow the instructions included for filling out and returning that CNA renewal application and USI Affinity will transition your firm's coverage to the new Professional Liability program.

"If you are not currently with the Philadelphia Bar Association's professional liability program, we urge you to give it a long look. We think you'll agree that this new endorsed professional liability offering is a great value, and a tremendous member benefit," said Carl "Hank" Delacato Jr., co-chair of the Association's Insurance Programs Committee. "We have worked in partnership with USI Affinity to make sure that our members have access to the best products and get the best possible service. This change in our professional liability offering is another example of that focus on excellence. Our members now have access to a superior professional liability insurance offering, with outstanding coverage, services and value."

USI Affinity is a leader in providing professional liability insurance, with more than 60 years of experience, 30,000 attorneys insured nationwide and more than 30 bar association endorsements, including those of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Association and many of Pennsylvania's other county bars.

Dandridge Voted Vice Chancellor

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Albert S. Dandridge III, a partner with Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, has been elected Vice Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Dandridge, voted in by Bar members in the Dec. 4 election, will serve as Vice Chancellor in 2013, Chancellor-Elect in 2014 and Chancellor in 2015.

Mary F. Platt, a partner with Griesing Law, LLC, has been elected Assistant Treasurer. Her term begins Jan. 1, 2013.

The following candidates for Bar offices ran unopposed and will begin serving in their positions on Jan. 1: Sophia Lee, Secretary; Wesley R. Payne IV, Treasurer; and Jacqueline G. Segal, Assistant Secretary.

The following five candidates were elected to three-year terms on the Association's Board of Governors:

Natalie Klyashtorny
Rachel E. Kopp
Emily B. Marks
Brad V. Shuttleworth
Dawn M. Tancredi

Seven candidates were also elected to three-year terms to the Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee and will begin serving their terms on Jan. 1. They are:

Andrew J. Kornblau
Jim Nixon
Matthew Olesh
Shabrei Parker
Jennifer Russell
Matthew T. Stone
Robert Zimmerman

Inaugural Address of Kathleen D. Wilkinson, 86th Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Thank you, John.

It's been a real pleasure working with John Savoth as he charted the course for our Association this year. John, you have been a true example of character, leadership and integrity and I thank you today - as I know our members also thank you.

I am delighted to have soon-to-be Chancellor-Elect Bill Fedullo as part of our team and look forward to continuing to work with him.

It is a tremendous honor to stand here, soon to be the Chancellor of this great Association. I feel indebted to so many.

With no lawyers in my family, and only my father having completed college, I was inspired and encouraged to succeed.

I must thank my family for their support, beginning with my father, Michael - and my mom, Marie - Yesenko, who provided a caring home for me and my sister, Denise. My mother passed away three years ago, and I know she is very proud. She could tell you that my hardworking Scottish grandfather emigrated from Canada, and that my Irish grandmother - from Brooklyn - had a wonderful sense of humor.

My other grandparents emigrated from Austria and Germany, speaking no English. The youngest of five children - my dad lost his father when he was two years old, but his two sisters and two brothers took care of him, while his mother worked as a housecleaner. Two of them - Uncle Val and Aunt Mitzi - are here today.

I am very proud of my three children, Lindsey, Lauren and Michael, who like to sing and are talented in many different ways. Thank you for all the fun and for attending all those Bar events over the years!

Today, we have a historic moment for the two largest bar associations in Pennsylvania, as well as for Pennsylvania and maybe the nation. Usually, we turn to the audience to thank our spouse, but today, I must look on the dias for the President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and also my husband, Tom Wilkinson.

I met Tom on the very first day of law school at Villanova and - after 27 years of marriage - he continues to inspire and support me to reach for my goals and aspirations.

While Tom and I didn't plan on serving overlapping terms as leaders of the state's two largest Bar associations, we are honored to serve and share a common passion for advancing the interests of our profession.

Tom and I are proud to be Villanova Law School graduates, part of Villanova Law J. Willard O'Brien American Inn of Court, and we thank the law school, and its faculty for providing a wonderful education and being a constant partner throughout our careers.

Thanks also to my firm Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker, and to Dan McMahon - the Chair of our national firm, Ken Scott - the Managing Partner of the Philadelphia office, the executive committee, and the members of the firm for your friendship, encouragement and your understanding of the commitment involved in serving as Chancellor.

The Philadelphia Bar Association, chartered in 1802, is the oldest association of lawyers in the United States.

Today, our Association is more diverse than ever before. A little over 20 years ago, our Association made history when Deborah Willig broke through a barrier to become the "first" woman Chancellor. Today, I am the sixth woman to hold this position in over 210 years.

Since that time, our leadership has become more diverse.

Today more than ever, the Bar Association is committed to inclusion and diversity in serving the legal profession. At the same time, we remain committed to serve the public interest through pro bono service and our mission of promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law.

But as our Association continues to evolve, we already see the signs of a shift in the profession.

Change is upon us.

A new generation of lawyers, vast technological advances and economic challenges require reexamination of traditional notions of legal practice and expertise.

Law schools and law firms must adapt to succeed in this challenging environment.

Therefore, we must not only focus on where we've been as a Bar Association, but also where we're going.

Indeed, we must ask ourselves some difficult questions.

In this new environment, we must ask: How does the Bar Association remain relevant to our profession?

The answer isn't easy or simple.

But one thing is certain.

A more diverse and inclusive Bar Association is vital to our success - a Bar Association that allows all attorneys to get involved. To network. To find jobs. And to serve our clients effectively.

And although we have made some progress in the area of women and minority attorneys in the legal profession, we must do better.

Today, we as a Bar Association should not be satisfied with the percentage of minority attorneys who are law firm partners or associates.

Nor should we be content with the number of women who become partners in law firms or who remain in the profession. And of course, the same applies to LGBT attorneys.

In an environment where billable hour models and bringing in business remain the norm, law firms and legal organizations that also value leadership, mentoring, community service, pro bono work - and give recognition to all of these important aspects of being a lawyer - should have their choice of the very best and brightest young lawyers.

Therefore, next year we will launch a Chancellor's Leadership Institute to provide ongoing substantive programming aimed at assisting and developing leadership skills and opportunities for women attorneys, attorneys of diverse backgrounds and young lawyers new to the profession, so they can succeed in today's legal profession.

Through the power of partnerships, we will host these programs in conjunction with other legal organizations and Philadelphia law firms, harnessing the wisdom and experience of some of our city's top legal minds.

As one of our first Chancellor's Leadership Institute programs, we will partner with our Young Lawyers Division to present a Chancellor's Forum on the topic of "20th Century Associates in a 21st Century Legal Environment."

This program will give advice on how to prepare today's law school graduates for the realities of practicing law in the new economy. I am pleased to announce that Villanova Law School Dean John Gotanda has agreed to participate in this program.

But the Chancellor's Leadership Institute will not be limited only to programs.

We will be expanding opportunities for greater participation by all attorneys through new liaison positions for all of our Sections and larger Committees. We have already seen success with this model through our Young Lawyers Division Section liaisons.

This past year, our Association passed a Resolution supporting hearings conducted by the City of Philadelphia, at the urging of Mayor Michael Nutter and Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, to examine the lack of women on corporate boards with which the City does business.

In 2013, we look forward to continuing to examine this important issue by partnering with other area groups, including the Chamber of Commerce, and The Forum of Executive Women.

I know that in the Philadelphia region, there are many talented women, including women attorneys, who are more than qualified to serve on corporate boards.

On the heels of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - and in a region known worldwide as a leading center for healthcare, pharma and life sciences - we must also be responsive to the needs of insurance and health care practitioners. We will explore the creation of a new Section to provide a meeting ground for these practitioners.

Given the public's interest in many issues surrounding education, and recent developments in the law, we will also create a Special Committee focusing on Education Law, whether in PreK to 12th grade, or colleges and universities. This Committee will provide a forum to examine important initiatives affecting our youth and the bar's role in this area.

In addition to building new areas of involvement for our members, we will re-energize existing Bar committees that foster dialogue between the Bar Association and our many valued law firms.

I am pleased to announce that Vincent McGuinness, managing partner of Cozen O'Connor, has agreed to serve as co-chair of our newly reactivated Large Firm Management Committee. Similarly, we will see reactivation of our Mid-Size Firm Management Committee.

These committees will discuss common issues and goals for lawyers at mid to large size firms.

Philadelphia lawyers represent a significant part of the Philadelphia business community. We want the City to be strong and remain vibrant. Through the Bar Association, we will reach out to the Mayor and City officials, and key governmental leaders to address our issues and goals.

Today, approximately 95 percent of large firms nationwide have established women's initiatives. Foremost on the agendas of many women's initiatives is improvement in four key areas: equity partnership, compensation, rainmaking and top leadership positions.

Accordingly, next year we will create a Women's Initiatives Task Force to delve into these key issues. The Task Force will be chaired by Caitlin Piccarello of Saul Ewing.

The mission of this Task Force is two-fold. It will create a network and foster a dialogue among leaders from women's initiatives in Philadelphia law firms and legal departments. It will also support the creation, growth and continued relevancy of women's initiatives in such firms and departments.

Make no mistake - the changes I have described are not just about creating a seat at the table. This is about positioning our Bar Association and our lawyers for the future and growing our profession by ensuring greater opportunities for every lawyer.

Of course, opening new doors of opportunity today would not be possible without those who paved the way for us.

Next year, our Association will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Award.

This award is presented annually to an outstanding woman attorney in the Philadelphia area who has demonstrated superior legal talent, advocacy for the advancement of women in the profession and a reputation for mentorship.

In honor of this very special anniversary, please join us for our June Quarterly Meeting and Luncheon on Wednesday, June 12th, an event you won't want to miss, as we welcome the first woman Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Sandra Day O'Connor, to commemorate this milestone in the history of our Association.

In 2013, we will also celebrate another historic anniversary, one with a profound impact on the American justice system - the 50th Anniversary of the United States Supreme Court's landmark decision in Gideon v. Wainwright.

In Gideon, the Court recognized that, in a society of profoundly unequal resources, justice can only prevail if the state provides indigent defendants with legal representation.

Our Civil Gideon Task Force will continue to study the implementation of a civil right to counsel in those areas where basic human needs are at stake, while marking this important anniversary.

But just as we look inward at our Association next year, we will also grow our reach in the community in new ways.

In 2012, we expanded our Military Assistance Program, to enable volunteer lawyers to not only provide free legal assistance to active-duty military personnel, but also to Philadelphia veterans who cannot afford or do not have access to the legal services they need.

In 2013, we will further support our servicemen and women of the Delaware Valley. We will partner with the United States Coast Guard, by providing wills on a pro bono basis. In addition, we will refer any local Coast Guard member or family member to a volunteer attorney to provide pro bono assistance in a wide variety of matters.

There are nearly 600 active duty personnel and 200 reservists who are part of Sector Delaware Bay, headquartered at Penn's Landing in Philadelphia.

As a major port city, Philadelphia has a long maritime history and for over two centuries the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded those in peril, as America's Maritime Guardian.

There is no attorney on staff located at the Coast Guard in Philadelphia.

Our partnership with this vital branch of the U.S. military helps us to "protect those who protect us."

Joining us on the dais today, I am pleased to welcome Lt. Commander Rick Detar, United States Coast Guard, who is stationed at Sector Delaware Bay, Philadelphia, and is in charge of law enforcement on the Delaware River and Delaware Bay, down to Cape May and up to Atlantic City. I have appointed Jeffrey Moller, partner at Blank Rome, and Daniel Goettle, partner at Woodcock Washburn, to be in charge of this program. Jeff graduated from the Coast Guard Academy and has a long career as a commissioned member of the Coast Guard. Dan spent many years as a line officer and then a lawyer with the Coast Guard. Thank you!

As Philadelphia lawyers, we are the keepers of the legacy of Andrew Hamilton. We proudly represent the legal profession to the world.

As part of that legacy, we have pledged to serve with civility and professionalism. These are our greatest attributes. This is our greatest responsibility.

In my heart, I know that civility, professionalism and a strong work ethic are the attributes that contributed to my own success, and are part of who I am. By showing professionalism in everything we do, we serve as role models for young lawyers.

President George Washington was guided by 110 "Rules of Civility" that were compiled in 1595 by Jesuits for teaching children. As a teenage boy in Virginia, Washington copied the 110 rules into a notebook and carried them his entire life, including all eight years as President of the United States.

Rule #1 sets the tone: "Every action done in company ought to be done with some sign of respect to those who are present."

Civility served Washington well, helping him lead a new nation. Modern lawyers can learn from Washington's example.

As lawyers, we share identities and strong values amidst our rich diversity and our nation's history.

But here in Philadelphia, the birthplace of freedom, as Philadelphia lawyers, we owe a higher obligation to honor and respect our legacy.

And so in 2013, let us all have civility and professionalism be part of everything we do as Philadelphia lawyers.

Earlier, I spoke of our agenda next year in the context of "change" - the changes that are bearing upon us as a profession.

I believe that creating new opportunities for leadership and development of our lawyers will help us meet the challenges of a constantly evolving profession.

So in conclusion, today, with your help, I ask that you join together with me so that - in the year ahead - we might give this great Association and our legal profession a bright and lasting future that we truly deserve.

Thank you.