Ty Barnett, stand-up comedian and finalist on NBC's hit "Last Comic Standing," will fill the Academy of Natural Sciences with laughter when he headlines the Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2nd Annual Comedy Night at the Academy on Saturday, May 12, 2007. Read more...
The Young Lawyers Division will join with local law students for its 2007-2008 Mentor program. Members of the YLD will be paired with law students and will meet at a happy hour in June. If you would like to volunteer to be a mentor, please fill out the YLD Mentor Questionnaire. The deadline to sign up is May 1.
If you have any questions, please contact Dan McKenna.
The 5K race features a number of competition divisions: open-individual, Bar Association members, company teams, legal teams, and male and female divisions. Runners may also participate in a separate competition featuring legal and corporate teams. For information about the team competition, contact Michael Berkowitz at (215) 567-2010, ext. 132.
In addition to the 5K run, a 5K walk begins shortly after the start of the run for those individuals and families who want to participate in this important cause. Individual walk registration is $20, and family registration is $60. Online registration for the event is available at active.com until May 18.
Registration for the May 20 event begins at 7:15 a.m. The run starts at 8:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 8:35 a.m. For more information, contact Eric Marzluf, Tom Bell or Louise Pangborn.
The directors of the race are Manny Pokotilow, Tom Bell, Eric Marzluf and Michael Berkowitz. Click here to register online.
Volunteers are needed to help with Law Week activities. If you would like to volunteer for Lawyer in the Classroom, please contact Abbie DuFrayne.
If you would like to volunteer for Law Fair at the Gallery on Wednesday, May 2, please contact Heather Herrington or Kristin McKenna.
To volunteer for Lawyer For A Day on Friday, May 4, please contact Scott Sigman or Pauline Manos.
For additional information and updates, go to the Law Week page on the Bar Association's Web site: philadelphiabar.org/page/LawWeek.
In this column, Lisa Getson discusses why you should learn about your potential neighborhood before buying. Read more...
Attorneys have the opportunity to gain valuable insights from senior practitioners under the Young Lawyers Division's Attorney Mentoring Program (AMP). A group of 25 senior lawyers have agreed to serve as mentors to members of the Young Lawyers Division. These distinguished lawyers come from diverse backgrounds and include solo practitioners, attorneys from large firms and attorneys who have been in government service.
If you are interested in being matched with a mentor through this program, please contact either Dan McKenna or Kate Skubecz. A luncheon hosted by the Young Lawyers Division will be held on May 8, 2007, for mentors and mentees. Thereafter, mentors and mentees will be able to develop an ongoing mentoring arrangement.
Ty Barnett, stand-up comedian and finalist on NBC's hit "Last Comic Standing," will fill the Academy of Natural Sciences with laughter when he headlines the Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2nd Annual Comedy Night at the Academy on Saturday, May 12, 2007. In addition to a night filled with entertainment, attendees will join together to raise money for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation -the charitable arm of the Bar Association, supporting legal agencies assisting the indigent, elderly and disabled, as well as abused women and children. The event, which runs from 7-11:30 p.m., features comedy, dancing, an open bar, heavy hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction.
Comedian and Philadelphia-native Chris Coccia will open for Ty Barnett and serve as emcee for the night.
The YLD Comedy Night is part of an annual mission to raise money for the Philadelphia Bar Foundation by promoting access to justice for all people in the community, particularly those struggling with poverty, abuse and discrimination. That mission is accomplished by providing grants and technical assistance in support of quality legal services, addressing unmet legal needs and providing education on matters in the public interest.
Tickets are $65 per person and the show is open to the public. All tickets are general admission. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
When making that big commitment to finally purchase a home, perhaps the most important decision is figuring out where to live. The first thing I always tell my clients is that a house can never be moved. Many homes are beautifully decorated or have been updated, but they may not be in the buyer's ideal location.
The first major factor in deciding where to live answers the age-old question: the city or the suburbs? I have many friends who work in the city and will live only in the city because they enjoy walking to work. I also have clients who work in the suburbs but prefer city living because they prefer the arts and entertainment, restaurants and night life. A buyer who favors the outdoors may enjoy living in the city if they can be near, for example, the East and West River Drives, but there also are numerous parks in the suburbs. And some of my clients, regardless of where they work, prefer suburban living for myriad other reasons.
The next step in choosing a neighborhood is determining what type of home you want to purchase. Do you want a single-family home? A twin? A townhouse? Do you want a condominium, and if so, do you want to be in a high-rise, with or without a doorman, or do you fancy a low-rise building? Different neighborhoods have different types of properties, so this will help narrow your search. Also consider your price range, so you can reasonably determine if homes of the type you are looking for are available in the neighborhood you select.
If you own a pet, this will become a factor if you are looking at condominium or apartment living. Each building will have requirements about what types of house pets they allow, if any at all. If you are thinking about residential living, various neighborhoods may cater to animals in their own unique way. For buyers looking to socialize and meet other dog lovers in the neighborhood, living near a dog park would certainly be advantageous. On the other hand, you may prefer a home in the suburbs with a large yard ideal for a dog or multiple pets.
Buyers who have children usually prefer to live in an area that is kid-friendly. If you choose to live in the city and want to be in a building, you may elect one where there are other children living. If you like the city but don't want to be in a building, check to see if the section of the city in which you are looking is near a park or recreation center or possibly a school. Walk around the neighborhood to get an idea of proximity to these features. And, although there are plenty of parks in the suburbs, not every neighborhood has one. More and more of my clients with children want a park within walking distance of their homes, and the neighborhoods that have one are increasingly popular. Buyers can usually research schools and school districts as well. School information is usually available online on school or township Web sites.
Another issue that comes up when choosing a neighborhood is safety. Obviously, nobody wants to live in a high-crime area. My best advice is to talk to the local police station, or better yet, talk to the neighbors about the safety of the area.
There are many components to consider when searching for the ideal neighborhood in which to purchase your home. Deciding between the city and the suburbs is a good place to start. Then take into consideration your own personal concerns, mix it all together and you will eventually come up with the perfect place to live. Once you have your neighborhood narrowed down, then you can zero in on the perfect house for you!
Lisa may be reached at lisa.getson@prufoxroach.com.
The Law Practice Management Division's Technology Committee will sponsor the panel discussion, "Setting Up a Law Office - Determining Your Technology Needs" on Wednesday, April 25.
The panel will discuss the technology needs of new and existing law firms, including hardware and software. The moderator for the program is Gil Marquez, law firm administrator for Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernter, Tanner & Weinstock. Panelists include Chuck Davis, president and co-founder of Adaptive Solutions, Inc.; Larry Hershman, president of Advanced Network Services, Inc.; and Monica D'Amore of D'Amore Consulting, LLC.
The program begins at 12 p.m. in the 11th floor Conference Center of Bar Association headquarters, 1101 Market St. Lunch is available for $7.50 for those members who register in advance. Click here to attend this program.
On Thursday, May 3 from 4 - 6 p.m., the Federal Courts Committee, Young Lawyers Division and PBI will sponsor a program on "My First Federal Trial." On the faculty, in addition to experienced lawyers who are also good practical teachers, there are five of the Eastern District's best judges, who will address topics such as: what to do in those last few hours (things that are not set out in the rules); what to expect at the final pretrial conference; the mechanics of a trial (where to stand, where to sit and what to do with exhibits); and what to do if you get in trouble.
This program is worth two CLE credits and is followed by a reception with the opportunity to meet and talk to the judges. For further details and registration information, click here.
