News and policy impacting the legal profession from City Hall, Harrisburg and beyond.

As the nation celebrates America's 250th year, the Association invites you to join the us for the 2026 Bench-Bar & Annual Conference, 1776-2026: The Fight for Justice Continues, in the birthplace of democracy, our home, Philadelphia.

Earn up to 9.5 CLE credits and join us for two days of networking, top-tier speakers, and more.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY, AUGUST 21! DON'T MISST YOUR CHANCE TO SAVE!

The Philadelphia Bar Association's Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention is currently accepting requests for evaluation from prospective judicial candidates. Candidates who wish to receive an evaluation prior to January 1, 2027 should submit their questionnaires and supporting materials by or before August 31, 2026 to allow the Judicial Commission sufficient time to complete the evaluation.

Additional information, including a link to the questionnaire form, can be found at the link below.

Completed questionnaires should be submitted to David Truman, Director of Policy, Governance and Legal Services, via hand-delivery to the Bar Association offices or via e-mail at dtruman@philabar.org.

We encourage everyone to take a moment to nominate someone who has made a positive impact. Your nomination can shine a light on contributions that might otherwise go unnoticed and help build a culture of appreciation for fellow members.  A few thoughtful words can go a long way in honoring their efforts and motivating others.

Let’s come together to recognize the great work happening all around us! Click the links below to submit a nomination. All nominations are due Monday, August 3, 2026. 

• Nominate Someone Today: 2026 Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award

• Nominate Someone Today: 2026 Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Award 

• Nominate Someone Today: 2026 Cheryl Ingram Award

• Law Students: Enter the 2026 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "Pursuit of Justice" Legal Writing Competition

The Philadelphia Bar Association is an accredited New Jersey CLE provider, making it easier than ever to earn your CLE credits in both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey jurisdictions.

Discover how the Philadelphia Bar Association is turning commitment into action through its Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI) Division. From expanding leadership opportunities to fostering inclusive programming and community impact, DEBI is driving meaningful change across the legal profession. Stay tuned for more information on how to join the DEBI Division.

Make the most of your Philadelphia Bar Association membership by actively exploring and using the full range of benefits available to you! Engaging with these offerings not only enhances your experience but also helps you maximize the value of your membership.

If you have an ethics question, please call (215) 238-6328 and a member of the Professional Guidance Committee will assist you. 

A roundup of the latest activity taking place in the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Members have access to HeinOnline archive collection of Philadelphia Bar Association publications. To access the archive, you must be a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

The Spring 2026 issue includes a conversation with the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, Zane David Memeger, the 2025 Hon. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “Pursuit of Justice” Legal Writing Competition winning essay, the 25th anniversary of Marshall Dennehey’s Advanced Trial Advocacy & Mock Trial Program, and much more.

We want to hear from you! Do you have a legal analysis article idea or a story to share about a memorable case, social issues, travel or even pop culture, fiction or poetry? Share your submission with us to be featured in a future issue of The Philadelphia Lawyer magazine!

Email communications@philabar.org with the subject line: Magazine submission

If you have a moment, we’d truly appreciate it if you could leave us a quick Google review. Share how your experience with the Bar Association has helped you to make connections and grow your career! It only takes a minute, and your insights can help others know what to expect. Your positive feedback helps our Association grow and continue providing the best service possible for members. 

Thank you for your support—it means the world to us!

Google: Philadelphia Bar Association -> Give us a star rating -> Write a review -> Hit Post

We take pride in supporting legal professionals in Philadelphia at every stage of their careers. Our members' experiences highlight the value of the Philadelphia Bar Association's resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts. Whether you're a seasoned attorney, a recent law school graduate, or a law student preparing for the future, our community is here to help you thrive. Read what our members have to say about how the Philadelphia Bar Association has positively impacted their professional journeys.

We hope you will sign up to be a judge/juror at Gladiator, the one-on-one high school mock trial world championship hosted by Drexel Kline Law.  Rounds 1-4 will be held at the federal courthouse (601 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106). The Semifinal will be held at the Kline Institute of Trial Advocacy (1200 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107).  

Here are the times of the trials (inclusive of check in and post-trial feedback).  They're much shorter than a normal mock trial (there's only one witness per side):

Round 1 (Sat., 7/25, 9:30 - 11:30 AM)

Round 2 (Sat., 7/25, 12:30 - 2:30 PM)

Round 3 (Sat., 7/25, 3:30 - 5:30 PM)

Round 4 (Sun., 7/26, 8:45  - 10:45 AM)

Semifinal (Sun., 7/26, 11:15 - 1:15 PM

Our Annual Partners and other benefit providers give Bar Association members access to discounts from local and national retailers, for legal and professional services and more!

DISCOUNTS INCLUDE:

• Wireless and data services discounts from Verizon, including 22% off your monthly bill for eligible members
• Travel discounts and planning services from Mondee
• Up to 35% PC computers and printers from HP
• Up to 20% off on gifts from 1-800-FLOWERS, Harry & David, and Cheryl’s Cookies
• Additional discounts on products and services, including performances at the Kimmel Cultural Campus, rental cars through Avis and Budget, and more

Decisis is a fast, reliable legal research tool powered by LexisNexis - free for Philadelphia Bar Association members - a $1788 value! Search all courts and jurisdictions (Need a case outside Pennsylvania? Find it with Decisis™.)

To access the benefit login with your member account.

Computers often contain valuable information that can help explain how an event occurred, who was involved, and when specific actions took place. User activity, file access records, internet history, connected devices, and system logs can all provide important context in legal matters, internal investigations, and business disputes.

Save up to 41% OFF select major appliances

Plus, receive FREE DELIVERY on orders over $299*

Save an additional 15%^† with code SPRING15.

Offer valid 6/17/26 - 7/8/26 on GE Appliances Store purchases only. Excludes small and countertop appliances. See Store for details.

From weekend adventures to everyday productivity, the right technology helps you stay connected wherever summer takes you. Enjoy exclusive pricing on Lenovo’s most popular laptops, desktops, accessories and gaming devices. Whether you’re upgrading your home office, planning summer travel, or preparing for your next big project, Lenovo has the technology to support your goals.

Offer valid 6/29/26 – 7/19/26

Printing is a daily essential—now it’s more affordable than it’s been in years. ODP Business Solutions is reintroducing some of its lowest Copy & Print pricing, with black and white prints at just $0.06 and color prints at $0.30. You can also take advantage of great pricing on HP ink and toner, helping you keep your office stocked while managing costs. Order online for convenience, then pick up in store to keep your workflow moving without delays. 

Your savings don’t stop at print. With the Store Purchasing Card (SPC), you can access your member pricing when shopping in Office Depot® and OfficeMax® stores, receiving the member price or in-store price, whichever is lower. Download your SPC for easy checkout, shop in person when needed, and take advantage of added services like free delivery on qualifying orders, same-day print pickup, and subscription savings on everyday essentials.

Welcome to “The Inside Track,” a focused series of expert, peer-facilitated conversations illuminating the unique path of in-house counsel. Each session explores pivotal transitions, mindset shifts, and specialized communication strategies needed for lawyers to succeed in the corporate world. On July 16, the discussion will cover communicating and the key differences between in-house and outside counsel.

On Tuesday July 21, 2026 12-1 p.m. via Zoom the Legal Rights of Persons with Disabilities (LRPD) Committee will host a discussion of the Department of Justice’s recent slip opinion “Application of the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act to State Institutionalization of Patients with Severe Mental Illness or Disabilities” facilitated by Christina Dzral, Director of Litigation at Disability Rights Pennsylvania, and Max Lapertosa, Senior Litigation Attorney at the Center for Public Representation. Christina and Max will provide an overview of the legal relevance of the slip opinion and the response of the disability community to date.

To request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please contact Sam Lyons at the Philadelphia Bar Association at slyons@philabar.org or (215) 238-6320. Please do your best to make your request 5 days in advance of the program. Otherwise, the Philadelphia Bar Association will still try to accommodate the request but may not have sufficient time. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Committee Co-chairs, Anne Armistead at annearmistead@gmail.com; Darlene Martin at darlmartin@pa.gov or Melissa Mazur at mmazuresq@gmail.com.