September 21, 2010

The People's Law School Kicks Off TONIGHT

Family, friends and others who might benefit can register in-person TONIGHT at the kick-off of The People's Law School, a six-week legal education program featuring 11 courses on a range of topics. The program takes place every Tuesday from 6:15-8:30 p.m. through October 26 in the Jury Assembly Room at the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St and costs $40, which includes access to all sessions and the course materials book. READ MORE

Online registration for the 2010 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference at the Borgata in Atlantic City, Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16, is available until Wednesday, Oct. 13. Register now! The event features 14 CLEs and a Grand Reception at newly-remodeled MIXX nightclub. YLD member costs remain at 2007 prices. READ MORE

Bench-Bar Scholarship Donors Thanked

The Philadelphia Bar Association would like to thank the following for providing scholarships to public interest and government attorneys so they can attend the Bench-Bar & Annual Conference.

The scholarship donors include Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC; Business Law Section; Cozen O'Connor; Duffy + Partners; Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernter, Tanner, Weinstock & Dodig LLP; Joseph A. Sullivan; Kovler & Rush, P.C.; Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin; Messa & Associates; Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP; Rosen, Schafer & DiMeo, P.C.; and Saltz Mongeluzzi Barrett and Bendesky. Feldman & Pinto, P.C. and Raynes McCarty each donated two scholarships.

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The People's Law School Kicks Off TONIGHT

Family, friends and others who might benefit can register in-person TONIGHT at the kick-off of The People's Law School, a six-week legal education program featuring 11 courses on a range of topics. The program takes place every Tuesday from 6:15-8:30 p.m. through October 26 in the Jury Assembly Room at the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St and costs $40, which includes access to all sessions and the course materials book.

The course schedule for The People's Law School is:

September 21
Social Security and Disability (6:15-7:15 p.m.)
Trusts and Estates (7:30-8:30 p.m.)

September 28
Small Claims and Landlord/Tenant (6:15-7:15 p.m.)
Consumer Credit (7:30-8:30 p.m.)

October 5
Personal Injury (6:15-7:15 p.m.)
Criminal Law (7:30-8:30 p.m.)

October 12
Real Estate (6:15-7:15 p.m.)
Employment Law (7:30-8:30 p.m.)

October 19
Bankruptcy (6:15-7:15 p.m.)
Workers' Compensation (7:30-8:30 p.m.)

October 26
Family Law (6:15-8:30 p.m.)

The People's Law School is open to all citizens. Registration and more details are available by clicking here, calling 215-238-6393, or through email at pls@philabar.org.

Please note that while The People's Law School will provide attendees information on different areas of the law, the program is not accredited and no degree or certificate will be conferred upon its completion.

Tip of the Month: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (In My Opinion)

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty happy that Fall - my favorite time of year - is just about here. I love just about anything related to Fall and since I know I'm not the only one out there who does, I thought I'd share some ideas for fun Fall activities.

First up is Linvilla Orchards in Media, PA where you can pick your own apples, get lost in a corn maze, and take a hayride to their Witch's House. It sounds like the perfect place to take the family or a group of friends.

Speaking of pumpkins, I'm a big fan of all things pumpkin and am really looking forward to The Institute's 2nd Annual Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin Beer Event on October 2. The event features a special pumpkin menu and pumpkin beers from Weyerbacher, Elysian, Southern Tier, Dogfish Head, The Bruery, Southampton, Arcadia, Wolaver's, Brooklyn, Lakefront and Dock Street.

If you miss The Institute's event or prefer to pick up some pumpkin beers and hang out with your friends, check out The Foodery, which usually carries quite a few pumpkin beers during the Fall. My favorites are Southern Tier Pumking, Dogfish Head Punkin Ale and Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Be careful though - by the time Halloween rolls around, most of the pumpkin beers are gone.

If you're into cars, I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday than at the Simeone Foundation. In addition to its collection of over sixty rare racing cars, the Foundation offers demonstration days, which means they actually take these rare cars for a spin. Fall demonstration days include "Bugatti Day" on September 25 and "Nurburgring" on October 23.

If you're still up for more outdoor Fall fun, head to Bucks County and check out Solebury Orchards for more apple picking, the Sleepy Hollow haunted hayrides and pumpkin patch at Active Acres Farm, and the scarecrow making workshops and apple festival at Peddler's Village.

Stephanie Mensing is a partner at the law firm of Wisniewski & Mensing, LLP and a member of the YLD Executive Committee. She can be reached at smensing@wm-law.net.

Entertainment Corner: Enjoy the Good Weather While it Lasts

As the leaves slowly turn from green to orange and the air goes from humid to crisp, I know I'll be looking to get out and enjoy some outdoor activities (provided there is no football game I’m interested is on TV). If you can escape NFL Redzone and let go of tracking stats for your 8 or 9 fantasy leagues, I'd highly recommend checking out the 14th Annual Vendemmia Festival next Sunday, September 26 from 2-6pm.

The festival, located in South Philly at Vendemmia Square, is dedicated to home winemaking and includes not only sampling of the homemade wines but cheese and other snack pairings, along with live music and just an overall friendly atmosphere (think "Sideways" mixed with "Rocky"). The festival boasts over 6,000 customers who pay $40 to $50 for the entrance fee. All proceeds go toward the Vendemmia Foundation's annual scholarships, which benefit South Philadelphia students who are entering high school and college.

If wine isn't your thing and you've been lax on your new year's resolution to get in shape, The Great Urban Race is being held in the city this Saturday, September 25. I'm not much of a runner, and by that I mean I find it extremely boring and I'm not very good at it. Secondly, I like to try and win contests or at least have a shot at winning. Luckily, The Great Urban Race is more like "The Amazing Race" than the Broad Street Run.

Held all over the country, the event is billed as an "Urban Adventure and Scavenger Hunt Race." Teams of two dress in wacky costumes and race around Philadelphia competing various physical challenges. The top 25 teams from the Philadelphia event qualify for the National Championships. There are also prizes for the best costumes and top family team.

If neither of those float your boat, well yes, there is plenty of football and baseball this weekend, but this great weather is only going to last so long, so at least grill food outdoors or head out at halftime or after the fifth inning to breathe some fresh air.

Aneesh Mehta is an associate at Volpe and Koenig who ran a 5k once and was passed by three people who were walking. He can be reached at amehta@volpe-koenig.com.

YLD to Kick Off 2010 National Pro Bono Week with Spotlight on Pro Bono Program, Oct. 22

The Young Lawyers Division will kick off National Pro Bono Week in Philadelphia on October 22 with "YLD Spotlight on Pro Bono," a free program co-hosted by the Delivery of Legal Services Committee and open to all attorneys interested in learning more about how to get involved in pro bono work and ways to balance these efforts with their professional careers.

The program will feature a panel of young lawyers sharing their experiences and lessons learned as pro bono volunteers. Presenters currently include Aisha Barbour of Ballard Spahr, Andy Boczkowski of GlaxoSmithKline, Michele L. Purdue-Dean, a solo practitioner, Rebecca Santoro of Hangley Aronchick Segal and Pudlin, and Matt Olesh of Fox Rothschild LLP. Bar Association Vice-Chancellor John Savoth will give opening remarks and a question-and-answer session with the audience will follow the presentation.

YLD Spotlight on Pro Bono will begin at 12 p.m. in the 11th Floor Conference Center at Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Attendance is free but pre-registration is requested. Lunch is also available for $8. CLICK HERE to register.

Stay tuned for a full calendar of Pro Bono Week events.

Register Now for Bench-Bar 2010 at The Borgata

Online registration for the 2010 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference at the Borgata in Atlantic City, Friday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 16, is available until Wednesday, Oct. 13. Register now! The event features 14 CLEs and a Grand Reception at newly-remodeled MIXX nightclub. YLD member costs remain at 2007 prices.

The 14 CLE programs, in which attendees can earn up to eight hours of credit (including the opportunity to earn two ethics credits), will feature judges and some of the city's most well-known practitioners, who will use their expertise and experience to enlighten attendees.

A dramatic re-enactment commemorating the 275th anniversary of Andrew Hamilton's historic 1735 defense of printer John Peter Zenger will be offered for CLE credit as the opening program on Oct. 15. The case established the concept of freedom of the press and coined the term "Philadelphia lawyer."

A state-of-the-court program will also be offered for CLE credit as the closing program on Saturday, Oct. 16. Vice Chancellor John E. Savoth and Board of Governors Vice Chair Regina M. Foley are co-chairs of the 2010 conference.

Full-conference admission is $429 for members and $479 for non-members. For members of the Young Lawyers Division and government and public interest attorneys, admission is only $279. CLICK HERE for a complete registration form and pricing guide.

Sponsors for the 2010 Bench-Bar and Annual Conference include USI Affinity, LexisNexis, Iron Mountain and Kaplan, Leaman and Wolfe Court Reporters. For information on becoming a sponsor, contact Michael Petitti at 215-238-6342 or mpetitti@philabar.org.

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