Philadelphia skyline Philadelphia skyline and Schuylkill river. Credit: Sergey Borisov/stock.adobe.com
  • From Oct. 18 through  Oct. 20, the Philadelphia Bar Association and CORA Good Shepherd Mediation Program will present a CLE-"Basic Mediation Training Workshop," from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. This three-day CLE workshop will prepare attorneys to become a mediator using the facilitative style of mediation. Participants will learn facilitation skills and techniques to enhance communication, conflict resolution, information gathering, perspective-taking, problem-solving, interest-based negotiating, and agreement writing. For more information and to register, visit philadelphiabar.org.
  • On Oct. 20, HIAS Pennsylvania will hold its annual meeting, a virtual event to honor HIAS volunteers, at noon. This event will honor Littler Mendelson, led by William J. Leahy, for providing much-needed human resource advice during the pandemic and beyond, and Mindy Silver and Rebecca Benarroch, for seamlessly adapting to the needs of HIAS clients during the pandemic by delivering food and other items, after already being stellar Philly neighbors. Register online at https://hiaspa.org/event/am2021/.
  • On Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., The Pennsylvania Innocence Project will hold a virtual annual celebration, "Dedicated to Justice," celebrating individuals who have made extraordinary efforts in the pursuit of justice in the criminal law system. The evening will feature a fireside chat with attorneys Jerry Blackwell and Steve Schleicher, who answered the call for justice when they took time away from their respective private practices to help lead the prosecution of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. For more information contact Jessica McClellan at [email protected].
  • On Oct. 21, the Public Interest Law Center will hold its annual celebration, "The Promise of Equity and Justice, at Vie at 600 N. Broad St., from 6-9 p.m. Join PILC at Vie, or on Zoom, for a cocktail reception, silent auction and more to support the mission to advance civil, social and economic rights for communities in the Philadelphia region facing discrimination, inequality and poverty. This event will feature the presentation of the 2021 Thaddeus Stevens Award to Jennifer Clarke, PILC's executive director from 2006-2020. For more information, contact Michael Berton at [email protected] or 267-546-1303. For tickets, visit https://one.bidpal.net/pilc2021/welcome.
  • On Oct. 21, from 12-1 p.m., Philadelphia VIP and the Pew Charitable Trusts will host a Virtual Seminar on Tangled Title. A new report from Pew found that over 10,000 homes in Philadelphia are burdened by tangled title. This disproportionately impacts Philadelphia's low-income homeowners. Join VIP and Pew's Garrett Hincken for a discussion of the report's findings and how volunteers can help. Register at https://www.phillyvip.org/events/seminar-philadelphias-tangled-titles/.
  • On Oct. 26, The Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project will host a virtual event, "PILP 40: Celebrating 40 years of the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project" from 6-7 p.m. At PILP40, you will hear from former and current clients, and keynote speaker Dwayne Betts, a formerly incarcerated man who was able to break free from the bonds of incarceration and graduate from Yale Law School. For more information and to register, visit https://pailp.org/pilp-40.

National Pro Bono Week Events in Philadelphia: Volunteer Trainings (Oct. 24-30)

  • On Oct. 25, Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project (CBAP) will hold a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Pro Bono Volunteer Training program, from 2-5 p.m., via Zoom. The training will cover the fundamentals of completing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition for a low-income client, including how to represent a client remotely. Given the current economic climate CBAP anticipates an increase in bankruptcy filings in 2022. As a CBAP advocate, you will help a family in need get a financial fresh start during these trying times. We hope you will join us. To receive additional information or to register for this program, contact Sherry Hoban at [email protected].
  • On Oct. 26, SeniorLAW Center, will present a free online volunteer training program, "The Nuts and Bolts of Representing Grandparents Raising Grandchildren," from 10-11 a.m., via Zoom. This training will address procedures and practice tips to effectively advocate for grandparents raising grandchildren in custody matters. The session will also explore the issue of third-party standing and provide practical information on how to prepare and file an action in court. Samples of all required documents will be provided. The presenter are Janine Dunlap Kiah, project director, SeniorLAW Center and Heather Kelly, staff attorney, SeniorLAW Center. Visit https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpfuuspzsrH9zmDRdH-i4wxHXQgRxHtUhn. For questions, contact Heather Kelly, [email protected] or visit https://seniorlawcenter.org/events/.
  • On Oct. 27, HIAS Pennsylvania will present an online training program, "Introduction to Current Topics in Immigration Law," from noon to 1:30 p.m. Join us to learn about three immigration topics that are in the news frequently: humanitarian parole and refugee resettlement for Afghans; temporary protected status for Haitians, Venezuelans and others; and green card applications for recently arrived refugees. Each type of immigration relief will be explained, and experts will describe the work that pro bono attorneys can do for clients in these areas. To register, visit https://forms.gle/qss8pp8TAcGUiYYM6.
  • On Oct. 28, the Philadelphia Bar Association will host the CLE-Pro Bono Representation of Nonprofit Organizations, from 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m., via webcast. Learn how to assist pro bono clients with forming a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation and applying to the IRS for tax-exempt status. This presentation will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to represent nonprofit organizations through various public interest legal service organizations. 2 SUBSTANTIVE credits available. For more information and to register, visit philadelphiabar.org.
  • On Oct. 28, HIAS Pennsylvania will present an online volunteer training session, "Substantive Training On Asylum Law," from noon-2 p.m. Join HIAS Pennsylvania to learn about representing clients pursuing claims for asylum. This training is appropriate for new and experienced pro bono attorneys. At this session, experienced immigration law practitioners will teach attendees about the substantive and procedural law that applies to asylum and related claims. To register, visit https://forms.gle/XQxjAJUQJ8gVuhU66.
  • On Oct. 28, Philadelphia VIP will present online, "Welcome to Philadelphia VIP: How Volunteer Attorneys Empower Our Community," from noon-1 p.m. One in four of our Philadelphia neighbors lives in poverty. Whether you're a veteran volunteer, you're new to VIP, or you've never volunteered at all, this session will orient you to VIP's mission, educate you on the challenges faced by our neighbors living in poverty, and show you how attorneys can have a life-changing impact by volunteering with VIP. To register, visit https://www.phillyvip.org/events/welcome-to-vip-2021.

 

  • On Oct. 27, the Philadelphia Bar Association will host the CLE-video encore: The Personality Science of Lawyer Mistakes: Understanding and Overcoming our Counter-Productive Fear of Making Mistakes, from noon-1 p.m., via webcast. This program addresses how lawyers, law students, and legal workplace leaders can recognize the reasons for our ingrained insecurity about erring and provide suggestions for disrupting our shared traits to enable better careers and more effective client service. 1 SUBSTANTIVE credit available. For more information and to register, visit philadelphiabar.org.
  • On Oct. 27, the Philadelphia Bar Association will host the CLE-The State of Race and the Law: Where We Are Now and Moving Forward Together, from 3-5:15 p.m., speakers live via webcast. This program is a timely and important examination of the state of race and the law. Panelists will discuss where we are now and how our legal community can move forward together. The panel will also discuss how our legal community can work together to identify, recognize and combat discrimination, including how to deconstruct dangerous stereotypes such as the model minority and the perpetual foreigner stereotypes. 2 ETHICS credits available. For more information and to register, visit philadelphiabar.org.
  • On Oct. 28, Rutgers Law School will host its 36th annual Mary Philbrook Public Interest Award Celebration, honoring Rasheedah Phillips and Rachel Garland, advocates for housing justice, and the winners of the award, as well as students from the classes of 2021 and 2022. The event will take place at 6-8 p.m. via Zoom. To register, visit https://rcit.rutgers.edu/apps/payment/register.php?event_id=717
  • On Oct. 29, Take Action Philly will host a discussion, "Gun Violence in Philadelphia: What, Why, and How Can We Help?" The program will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. via Zoom. This program will address gun violence in Philadelphia, its causes, potential solutions, and the litigation that could help Philadelphia to fight gun violence. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gun-violence-in-philadelphia-tickets-188395545147

November 2021

  • From Nov. 1 through Dec. 6, in recognition of our continued concerns for client, volunteer, and staff safety, Support Center for Child Advocates has decided to once again make our annual toy drive a campaign to collect and distribute gift cards for our clients and every child living in their home. Last year we were able to pivot to the new format and provide over 1,300 children with $50 gift cards, and our hope is to match those totals again this year. We accept both physical and electronic gift cards for our clients of all ages, and will be counting on the renewed support from our donors, as well as the volunteer efforts of our virtual toy drive coordinators, to help the children and families that we serve enjoy a brighter holiday season. For more information, contact Mike Drzik at [email protected].
  • On Nov. 4, The Philadelphia Bar Association will host the CLE-Eviction Diversion Program Mediation Training, from 10:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m., presenters live via webcast. This program addresses the basics of landlord-tenant law, the eviction process, new legislation affecting evictions in Philadelphia, the eviction diversion program (EDP), and prepares attendees to serve as volunteer mediators for Philadelphia's EDP. 2 SUBSTANTIVE credits available. For more information and to register, visit philadelphiabar.org.
  • On Nov. 4, The Legal Clinic for the Disabled will hold its annual Fall Celebration, from 6-9 p.m., at One North Broad, The Masonic Library and Museum to support LCD's mission to empower low-income people with disabilities and the deaf and hard of hearing in the Philadelphia region to achieve inclusion, independence, and justice. The evening will include opportunities beginning at 5 p.m. for a tour of the temple, as well as an awards ceremony, live and silent auctions, luxury catering, and a premium bar. This year, LCD is proud to honor Kendra Brooks, city council member at-large from the Nicetown neighborhood of north Philadelphia, and Vicki Landers, founder and CEO of Disability Pride Pennsylvania. For more information, contact Linda Peyton at [email protected] of 215-587-3214. For tickets, go to lcdphila.org/celebrate.
  • On Nov. 9, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation will host the Philadelphia Bar Foundation Access to Justice awards benefit, virtually, at 5 p.m. The bar foundation will honor its award recipients: William T. Coleman Jr., trailblazer for justice; Nilam A. Sanghvi, the 2021 Philadelphia Bar Foundation award recipient; and White and Williams, the 2021 Pro Bono award recipient. Read about the award winners, learn about sponsorship opportunities and register for the event their website: https://www.philabarfoundation.org/events/2021-access-justice-awards-benefit.
  • On Nov. 10, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (PMC) will host the virtual Judicial Independence Benefit – Collaboration, Courts & Constitutional Freedoms, 5:30-6:30 p.m.  PMC will celebrate supporters and honor Robert C. Heim: PMC board chair, leader of Dechert's trial department for 20 years, U.S. Navy veteran, and steadfast advocate for judicial independence. More information can be found on pmconline.org.