September 18, 2007

Don't Miss 2007 Bench-Bar Conference!

Registration is still open for this year's Bench-Bar Conference on Sept. 28 and 29 at Bally's, Atlantic City.

Hotel rooms are available for Thursday night Sept. 27 at $99 and Friday night rooms at $144. Call 1-800-345-7253 for reservations and mention you are attending the Philadelphia Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference to get these special room rates. Please note these rates are available while space permits.

Attendees can receive 7 CLE credits and Bally's Atlantic City offers a world-class spa, salon, fitness center and 18 restaurants to meet every craving. Experience the Old West at Bally's Wild Wild West Casino with nearly 74,000 feet of gaming accessible via a short connected walkway. Register now for the Bench-Bar Conference here.

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Mentoring: Alive and Well in Philadelphia

What Some Firms Are Doing to Help Young Lawyers Develop by Brian Krier

In an era of ever-growing salaries and demands for billable hours, some members of the legal community believe that mentoring for young lawyers is on the decline.

According to legal recruiters in the area, the competitive nature of the profession has weakened the sense of loyalty vital to the success of law firms, and as a result, turnover is higher than ever.

"There is a lot more movement among younger lawyers, whether they're looking for a better quality of life balance or a more favorable partner relationship," said legal recruiter Steve Kruza, a principal of Kruza Legal Search.

Why now? The unprecedented growth in the number of law students joining the profession in the latter half of the 20th century created stiff competition among firms for top graduates. As starting salaries ballooned, billable hours quotas were heightened to recover the increasing costs, ultimately forcing traditional methods of personal mentoring into the background.

As a result of newer high expectations, young associates may no longer be getting the guidance they need to fully develop as attorneys, and are no longer stakeholders in the success of their firms.

To read more of this article from the latest edition of YL, please click here.

Association Members Invited to Advance Screening of "Michael Clayton"

width=85, height=135, align=left vspace=3, border=0 Warner Brothers Pictures invites you and a guest to a special, free advance screening of George Clooney's new film, "Michael Clayton."

The screening will take place Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m. at the Ritz At The Bourse and will be followed by a Q&A with writer/director Tony Gilroy. Please RSVP to Katie Green at 215-246-3435 by Friday, Sept. 21 to reserve your seat.

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Making a Difference: Women Helping Women in the Legal Profession

Join the Women in the Profession Committee on Tuesday, Sept. 25 to hear Amelia H. Boss, Esq., co-chair of the DirectWomen Institute & member of the ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, and Abbe Fletman, Esq., former co-chair and current cember of the Woman Advocate Committee of the ABA Litigation Section, discuss the DirectWomen Institute, a program specifically designed to train and select women attorneys who can then serve on for-profit corporate boards.

This program will be held in the Bar Association's 10th Floor Board Room. Lunch is available for $7.50 for those who register in advance.

To register, click here.

Make Time to See "3:10 To Yuma" by Bill Larson

3.0 Buckets of Popcorn out of 4

I believe that we are all two people inside. One is the compassionate, honest, hard-working, turn the other cheek kind of person who is unwaveringly good. The other is the darker half who is the selfish, greedy pleasure-seeker who is out for themselves.

I also believe that each half cannot survive without the other.

But what if those two separate halves met up? What would happen and who would win? That is the most interesting thing about this new version of "3:10 To Yuma," a decent action picture that is also a great study on good versus the temptation of evil.

Dan Evans (Christian Bale) is a Civil War veteran struggling to survive a drought that has plagued his ranch. In desperate need of money, he volunteers to deliver notorious outlaw Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) to the train that will take the thief and killer to trial. Two men from different worlds, Evans and Wade slowly earn each other's respect, but with Wade's gang on their trail, a seemingly simple mission turns into a violent and dangerous journey.

Bale and Crowe are good in their roles, but the character you root for the most is Evans' older son, William, because he is the one torn between his father's do good but loser attitude and Wade's do bad but appealing lifestyle and legend. Which side will he choose when faced with the decision to simply (and even justifiably) pull the trigger?

Westerns don't come out too often these days. To me "Open Range" is the best of the neo-western genre. "3:10 To Yuma" is entertaining, but way too light. It does have some things to say about the nature of people, their motivations and the outcomes, but it is easily forgettable soon after you check your watch and leave the theater.

Russell Crowe ... Ben Wade

Christian Bale ... Dan Evans

Logan Lerman ... William Evans

Dallas Roberts ... Grayson Butterfield

Ben Foster ... Charlie Prince

Peter Fonda ... Byron McElroy

Vinessa Shaw ... Emmy Nelson

Alan Tudyk ... Doc Potter

Luce Rains ... Marshal Weathers

Gretchen Mol ... Alice Evans

Lennie Loftin ... Glen Hollander

Rio Alexander ... Campos

Johnny Whitworth ... Darden

Shawn Howell ... Jackson

Pat Ricotti ... Jorgensen

MPAA: Rated R for violence and some language.

Runtime: 117 min

Barristers Association to Host Happy Hour on Sept. 26

Join the Barristers Association and co-sponsor National Association of Black Accountants for a happy hour at the Rum Bar Lounge & Restaurant (2005 Walnut Street) on Wednesday, Sept. 26 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Drink specials include $3 well drinks, half-price draft beer and $5 mojitos. Kindly RSVP to Rachel Branson.

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