Philadelphia-PA-Skyline Philadelphia skyline.
  • On March 27, the Philadelphia Bar Association will hold a CLE program titled “Philadelphia Property Tax Foreclosures: Process & Prevention (a Guide for the Perplexed),” from noon-2:15 p.m. (lunch and registration begin at 12 p.m.), at the association's 11th floor conference center, 1101 Market St., Philadelphia. This program is co-hosted by Community Legal Services, the Philadelphia Bar Association, and the Real Property Section. Panelists will address the basic procedures used in a tax foreclosure case pursuant to the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act (MCTLA); the current Court of Common Pleas procedures that have evolved to handle the increased filings; and the city's new Tax Foreclosure Prevention Program created to help preserve Philadelphia's high rate of home ownership while collecting needed revenue for city services. Two substantive CLE credits are available. Register online at www.philadelphiabar.org.
  • On March 27, Philadelphia VIP's LawWorks Program and Dilworth Paxson will hold a Nonprofit Legal Assessment Clinic and Training Program for volunteer attorneys, from 9-11:30 a.m., at Dilworth Paxson, 1500 Market St., Suite 3500E, Philadelphia. This legal assessment clinic for local nonprofits will be preceded by a one-hour training session on nonprofit law. Each participating attorney will be expected to provide post-clinic legal assistance to one participating nonprofit on a discrete matter. Attendees will help local nonprofit organizations identify and then address key legal issues (e.g., creating/updating bylaws, reviewing contracts, securing 501(c)(3) status). Register online at www.phillyvip.org.
  • On March 28, the Philadelphia Bar Association will present a CLE program titled, “Legal Issues Facing LGBTQIA Youth in Philadelphia,” from noon-1:30 p.m. (lunch and registration begin at 11:30 a.m.), at the association's 11th floor conference center, 1101 Market St., Philadelphia.This panel will explore a number of legal barriers disproportionately faced by LGBTQIA youth in Philadelphia. Panelists will explore the criminalization of LGBTQIA youth and how that criminalization impacts their lives, including addressing the over-policing of LGBTQIA youth in school, conditions of confinement and collateral consequences faced upon reentry. This program is hosted by the Public Interest Section's legal rights of children committee. The program will offer 1.5 substantive CLE credits. Register online at www.philadelphiabar.org.
  • On March. 28 Philadelphia VIP will hold a volunteer training titled “Probate-Resolving Title Issues to Keep Clients in Their Homes,” from 8:30-11 a.m., at Cozen O'Connor, One Liberty Place, 1650 Market St., Philadelphia. This seminar will delve into the probate process and explain how to assess a client's claim to inherited property, probate an estate at the Register of Wills, and transfer title from heirs to the client. Register online at www.phillyvip.org.
  • On April 4, the Public Interest Law Center will host a “Gerrymandering Lawsuit Meet-and-Greet” at The Inn at Swarthmore, 10 S. Chester Rd., Swarthmore, from 6:30-9 p.m. Attendees will learn about the successful constitutional challenge to Pennsylvania's 2011 U.S. Congressional map; hear about the case from the attorneys who worked on it; and then meet and mingle with those attorneys and fellow supporters of redistricting reform in Pennsylvania while enjoying a cocktail reception. Register online at https://gerrymander-meet-greet.eventbrite.com.
  • On April 4, the Public Interest Law Center's Garden Justice Legal Initiative will hold a training on the legal tactics and strategies involved in representation and protection of threatened community gardens, from 1-4 p.m, at 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. The training will be followed by a clinic on April 18, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society located at 10 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor Café, Philadelphia. The clinic will pair interested attorneys with garden clients facing a host of issues surrounding land access, land security, taxes and more. Register online at https://representing-threatened-gardens.eventbrite.com.
  • On April 5, The Homeless Advocacy Project will host its 2018 Annual Benefit, from 5:30-8 p.m., at Sofitel Philadelphia, 120 S. 17th St., Philadelphia. All proceeds from this event will support HAP's work to provide legal services to homeless individuals and families. Enjoy complimentary cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a silent auction. Register online or contribute to the silent auction at https://homelessadvocacyproject.org/annual-benefit.html.
  • On April 10, a volunteer workshop titled “How to Handle a Child Abuse Case,” will be held from 8:50 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (check in begins at 8:30 a.m.), at the Wanamaker Building, 10th floor, Philadelphia. This program will provide instruction on the law and standards of practice for lawyers who represent children in abuse and neglect cases, as well as provide practical guidance on what is expected. Attendees will be qualified to receive cases as a Child Advocates Volunteer Attorney with the Support Center for Child Advocates or will be certified to receive court appointments for dependency cases in Philadelphia.  For more information, visit http://sccalaw.org/takeastand/.
  • On April 11, Philadelphia VIP will hold a volunteer training session titled “Divorce Training: Helping Clients Move on with Financial Stability,” from 12-2:30 p.m., at Duane Morris, 30 S. 17th St., Philadelphia. The training will take a step-by-step look at the divorce process and provide practical information to represent a client throughout a divorce case in Philadelphia Family Court. Register online at www.phillyvip.org.
  • On April 18, the Support Center for Child Advocates (SCCA) will host its Annual Benefit Reception & Auction from 5-8 p.m. at the Crystal Tea Room, Wanamaker Building, 100 East Penn Square, Philadelphia. This event will celebrate the extraordinary efforts of SCCA honorees who devote countless hours to improving the lives of vulnerable children. At the event, the 2018 Judge Lois G. Forer Child Advocacy Award will be presented to Ann and Mark Baiada; the Eddie Ohlbaum Distinguished Advocate for Children Award will be presented to Mark Gittelman; and the Andi Broad Distinguished Client Award will be presented to Shakiyah Thorton. Additional 2018 Distinguished Advocates Awards will be presented to Candace Centeno, Joseph DeSimone, Dr. Ken Ginsburg, Robyn Goldenberg, Elizabeth Hecht, Teri Papale Munro, Dennis Lynch, Janie Mershon, Judy McIntire Springer, and Phyllis Stevens. To register, or for more information, visit http://sccalaw.org.
  • On Thursday, April 19, Philadelphia VIP will host its Annual Awards Ceremony at Philadelphia City Hall in the Mayor's Reception Room (Room 202) & Conversation Hall (Room 201). The awards ceremony will be held from 5:30-6:15 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception from 6:15-7:30 p.m. Each year, Philadelphia VIP hosts its annual awards ceremony to celebrate its dedicated volunteers and supporters, recognize special achievements, and elevate the importance of pro bono. Light hors d'oeuvres and drinks will be served. Register online at www.phillyvip.org.
  • On April 24, from 5:15-8:30 p.m., HIAS Pennsylvania will host its Golden Door Awards, Keeping the Door Open, at the Crystal Tea Room, 100 E. Penn Square, Philadelphia. This event will honor those who are leading the way in support of immigrants and refugees: Sanford Mozes, Senior Partner at Fox Rothschild; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; and Liliana Velasquez, former client of HIAS PA. Register online at http://hiaspa.org/goldendoor2018.
  • On April 28, May 19 and a date in June to be determined, Citizenship Clinics will be held at various locations in Philadelphia by nonprofit organizations that are partners in a new initiative known as the New Americans Campaign (NAC) Philly. The clinics will expand naturalization and help Philadelphia's immigrant population become the city's newest citizens. The nonprofit partners, HIAS Pennsylvania (site leader), Catholic Social Services, Esperanza Immigration Legal Services, the Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition (SEAMAAC), the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) and the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, are now recruiting volunteer attorneys and nonattorneys to staff the clinics. No experience is required and training will be provided. Interested volunteers should register using one of the following links: Attorneys: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdvy2MAL3YbTLXAlNk-Y3KDKq2MYcnOwLKpVWvbJKg1IaTFEw/viewform. Nonattorneys: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CwJ8GGSIDMQ4zXfc3tm6wdE2FfD7ffZJ4F8Pqdqd6yI/edit. For questions or further information, NAC Philly can be reached at [email protected].