Neighborhood Legal Services Association will holding its Spring, 2013 Seminar entitled Landlord Tenant Pro Bono Program, on Monday, June 10, 2013, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in the Academy Room, 9th Floor, City-County Building, Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. This program is sponsored by the Civil Litigation Section of the ACBA and hosted by the Allegheny County Bar Association. CLE CREDITS: 2 substantive credits REGISTRATION FEE: $0.00 - for attorneys or paralegals volunteering for the Landlord Tenant Pro Bono Program; $60.00 - for non-volunteers; $40.00 - for non-volunteers who do not want CLE credit or for non-volunteer paralegals. PRESENTERS: Kathryn McKee, Esquire, Neighborhood Legal Services Association Barbara Kern, Esquire, Neighborhood Legal Services Association This course has been approved for the listed CLE credits by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board. NLSA is the CLE Provider. If you would like more information about the seminar, contact Sharon Goldsmith at (412) 586-6101. Please make sure to bring photo identification with you to the CLE as this seminar is being held in a secure building and photo identification may be required for admittance into the building. More Information and Registration

North Penn Legal Services and the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association, as a Part of the ongoing Pro Bono Initiative, will conduct a Continuing Legal Education Program entitled Mortgage Foreclosure: Settlement & Litigation on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at Hoyt Library Community Room, 284 Wyoming Avenue, Kingston, PA. This first session of this seminar offers a variety of useful information on settlement options including county diversion programs, forbearance, modification, government programs, refinancing, short sale and deed in lieu. The session will also cover foreclosure defenses including lack of notice, ownership of the note and mortgage, robo-signing, failure to produce documents, and failure to comply with government guidelines. Attendance of this program is free to any attorney who is willing to accept one (1) pro bono mortgage foreclosure referral from North Penn Legal Services within six months from the date of training, otherwise the cost is $50.00. For any attorney attending the full program, the CLE credit earned for the session is 2.5 substantive credits. Registration Fee: FREE for attendees agreeing to accept one (1) pro bono mortgage foreclosure referral from North Penn Legal Services. (Otherwise the cost is $50.00). How to Register: Contact Victoria Coyle at vcoyle@northpennlegal.org or 610-317-5308 Registration Deadline: Monday, June 10, 2013

The Pennsylvania Bar Instittute, in conjunction with the PBA Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, will be holding a program entitled Legal Issues Affecting Military Personnel: The Drawdown and Homecoming on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 9:00am to 4:30pm. The program will be presented live at the PBI Conference Center, 5080 Ritter Road, Rossmoyne Exit, Rt. 15, Mechanicsburg, PA and via live simulcast to Norristown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Six Substantive PA CLE credits are offered for attendance at the program. The program is also being offered via a live webcast which can be viewed online. However, the PA CLE Board now permits you to earn only up to four credits online each compliance year Program Highlights Discover how to pinpoint the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other readjustment issues in military veterans returning home from combat War zone veterans: who are they? The war zone experience: the effects of deployment After the war: understanding homecoming Gain insights into how PTSD-related points intersect with the legal system Criminal cases: domestic violence, substance abuse, aggression Civil cases: child custody and support; parenting; family law Grievances relating to competency and responsibility Acquire valuable information about how PTSD is manifested and other mental health symptoms DSM-IV PTSD criteria as evidenced in returning combat veterans Thinking outside the "DSM box": other trauma-based symptoms/syndromes Traumatic brain injury (TBI) Substance abuse and addiction Violence and suicide What attorneys need to know about mental health treatment of PTSD Getting the most out of your expert witness Challenges to treatment success Successful treatment: criteria for an optimal candidate Legal Services / Public Interest Lawyers PBI waives the tuition fee for the first 12 hours of CLE taken in each calendar year, for attorneys employed full-time by many nonprofit legal services and public interest organizations providing legal services to individuals at no or de minimis fees. These attorneys may enroll for additional CLE courses at 50 percent of the highest member fee. This policy does not apply to distance education courses. More Information and Registration

The eighteenth annual Philadelphia VIP Summer Pro Bono Day will be on Friday, June 7, 2013 from 11:30am - 2:30pn at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. The event is geared specifically to law students at the inception of their careers to educate them about issues of poverty in Philadelphia and to promote an ethic of service to address those issues through pro bono work. Students will first be joined by judges from the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania who will be present to discuss the importance of pro bono service. Students will learn about poverty in Philadelphia and be introduced to resources available to help provide legal services not otherwise available to the neediest Philadelphians. VIP clients and volunteer attorneys will also present their stories, affording students the opportunity to see the effects of providing legal assistance. It is hoped that by attending, students will gain a heightened appreciation for pro bono service in our community and experience legal justice in action. Law students can register on VIP's website at: https://phillyvip.org/content/training-registration-form

Philadelphia VIP, the hub of pro bono legal services in Philadelphia, is hosting a welcome program for attorneys who are new to volunteering with VIP on Thursday, June 27, 2013, 8:30am to 9:15am at Philadelphia VIP, 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19103 This program will provide an overview of Philadelphia VIP and the opportunities and resources available to volunteers. Orientation materials and a light breakfast will be provided. Register for the Program

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at 3 p.m. EDT, the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) Technical Assistance (TA) Center will host a training webinar entitled: Meeting Legal Needs of Homeless and At-Risk Veterans: VHA Programs for Justice-Involved Veterans. Earlier this year, the NCHV TA Center hosted a training webinar on best practices for meeting the legal needs of homeless veterans to remove barriers to employment. This training introduced successful court models that connect veterans seeking treatment to needed legal services that prevent incarceration. When asked for additional needs after this training, webinar participants overwhelmingly requested more information on engaging with partners at their local VA Medical Centers to provide legal services. This Level II Training Webinar will feature issue-experts from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration: Sean Clark, National Coordinator, Veterans Justice Outreach, and Jessica Blue-Howells, National Coordinator, Health Care for Reentry Veterans. For the past seven years, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been providing direct outreach to veterans re-entering the community after serving a term in prison. Additionally, for the past four years, VHA has been providing direct outreach to veterans involved in arrests, jail incarceration, and treatment courts. Participants in this webinar will obtain a baseline understanding of the needs of justice-involved veterans and two VHA models that have been developed to assist veterans along the continuum of justice involvement. Title: Meeting Legal Needs of Homeless and At-Risk Veterans: VHA Programs for Justice-Involved Veterans When/Where: May 14, 2013 3 pm Eastern Webcast - Preregistration Required - See below Registration: To register, send the following information to hvrp@nchv.org: Name: Organization: Email address: Organization address: Once you register, you will receive instructions for joining the training and a link to download the training materials. For additional questions, please contact Baylee Crone at bcrone@nchv.org or 202-546-1969. CLE Credit: While the sponsor of this event has not applied for CLE credit, the content and instructors appear to meet the requirements of various jurisdictions. The sponsor has said that they will email certificates of attendance upon request.

On May 15 at 1:00 p.m. EDT, the Pro Bono Institute is hosting the webinar The Ethics of Unbundled Legal Services: Limited-Scope Representation and Pro Bono. This program is the second in a series of Best of the 2013 PBI Annual Conference webinars reprising and supplementing the most popular sessions from the Conference. The speakers will consider various ethical rules related to unbundling of legal services, also known as limited-scope representation and what some have called "a proven method for addressing the needs of justice in our 21st Century courts." The following panelists will explore how legal institutions comply with the applicable ethics rules while providing such services: Hon. Fern A. Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge of New York City Courts, Director of NYS Access to Justice Program L. Joseph Genereux, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney LLP*† Sheila A. Hubbard, Executive Director, Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association Please join this webinar to earn ethics CLE credit and learn about best practices related to addressing and complying with the ethical issues and rules implicated by limited-scope representation. Examples of limited-scope representation include: consultation, such as giving advice and direction; document preparation; and limited representation in court. Registration is required to access this program, either live or on-demand as a recording. Corporate participants should contact CPBO Project Assistant Eric Florenz to register or to submit questions in advance of the program. Registration is free for Law Firm Pro Bono Project Members. Law firm participants should contact Director of Strategic Communications David Lipscomb for registration information or to submit questions. More Information

The Philadelphia Bar Association will be hosting a Night at the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 when the Phillies host the Washington Nationals at 7:05 p.m. Seating will be located in the Terrace Deck (sections 418) at $30 per ticket. Net proceeds from tickets sold through this offer will benefit the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and SeniorLAW Law Center. Tickets are subject to availability! Please place your order by April 28. Click Here for More Information and to Order Tickets.

Low-income Pennsylvanians and the lawyers who help them will testify along with community and business leaders and judges at a Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee Public Hearing, "Civil Legal Representation of the Indigent: Have We Achieved Equal Access to Justice?" on Tuesday, May 7 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 8E-B in the East Wing of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Stewart J. Greenleaf (R-Montgomery, Bucks) will chair the hearing. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark decision Gideon v. Wainwright establishing the right to counsel for the indigent in serious criminal matters. Few such Gideon-type rights have been recognized in civil matters where basic human needs such as shelter, safety, health, sustenance and child custody are at stake. Meanwhile, the demand has surged for civil legal representation on behalf of the poor, whose ranks have swelled following one of the worst recessions in the nation's history. Those needs have been largely unmet due to a "perfect storm" of sustained, repeated and severe cuts in federal and state funding and a tight private fund-raising environment that have resulted in layoffs of legal aid staff and office closings. The gulf between client need and availability of legal help has been termed "the civil justice gap." State and national studies estimate that a staggering 80 percent of critical legal needs of low-income people go unmet due to grossly insufficient funding and support. The purpose of the public hearing is to explore and create awareness of the current state and scope of the unmet need for civil legal services by low-income Pennsylvanians confronting legal problems involving basic human needs. Public interest agency clients with serious legal problems impacting their basic human needs and those of their families - individuals without access to an attorney or who otherwise could not have been helped without access to an attorney - will share their personal stories of struggle at the hearing. Additionally, key stakeholders will testify regarding the legal community's ethical obligations to the civil side of justice and discuss the adverse impact of the growing civil justice gap, including the economic and social harm (direct and/or indirect) when critical legal needs are unmet as well as the economic and social benefits to the community when such needs are met. It is anticipated that the hearing will elicit information about how the substantial number of unrepresented litigants in civil legal matters adversely impacts the quality of justice for all parties in Pennsylvania courts, increases the amount of litigation and undermines the rule of law. Additionally, the hearing is expected to explore how the unmet need for civil legal assistance is profoundly impacting vulnerable Pennsylvanians and costing taxpayers millions of dollars by increasing homelessness, failing to prevent domestic violence and increasing poverty. In these difficult economic times, current funding is inadequate to meet the critical need for civil legal assistance in the state. "Equal access to legal representation is one of the most critical justice issues we face today," said Senator Greenleaf. "I am pleased to see the Commonwealth's legal community come together to offer their insights and recommendations to the Judiciary Committee on this important matter. In recent years, we have seen the number of individuals seeking assistance increase and funding disappear due to the economic downturn. I would like to thank the Bar Associations of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania for their dedicated work for equal access to justice for all Pennsylvanians." The 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association and 28,000-member Pennsylvania Bar Association are among the organizations that are part of a broad-based "Civil Legal Justice Coalition" created to work collaboratively on exploring strategies to improve access to justice. The Honorary Chair of the Coalition is Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille. Among those expected to testify at the hearing are a number of low-income clients, and key stakeholders including Thomas G. Wilkinson, President, Pennsylvania Bar Association; Samuel W. Milkes, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. (PLAN, Inc.); Hon. Chester T. Harhut, Judge, Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, and President of the PLAN, Inc. Board of Directors; Hon. Todd A. Hoover, President Judge, Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas; Rhodia D. Thomas, Executive Director of MidPenn Legal Services; Bill Rothman, Founder, RSR Realtors; Andrew F. Susko, Chair, Pennsylvania Interest On Lawyers' Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Board; and Elaine Strokoff, Executive Director, Downtown Daily Bread. A second Senate Judiciary Committee Public Hearing on Civil Legal Representation of the Indigent will be held on Thursday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Bar Association, 1101 Market Street, in the 11th floor Conference Center.

The United We Dream Network, National Immigration Law Center, Own the Dream Campaign, and Immigration Advocates Network invite you to join the rescheduled webinar, Senate Immigration Bill and DACA -- What You Need to Know, on Thursday, May 2 at 1:30 pm Eastern. The new Senate immigration reform bill includes special benefits for those with Deferred Action and all DREAMers. This webinar is designed for DACA service providers and organizers to get the facts about the Senate bill's DACA and DREAMer provisions and learn answers to common questions being raised by DREAMers and their families in the wake of the bill's introduction. We will also share new, easy to understand resources from the Own the Dream Campaign, which you can use to inform your clients and community about what the bill means for them and tips to avoid misinformation and fraud. Panelists include Lorella Praelli, Advocacy and Policy Director, United We Dream Network; Kamal Essaheb, Immigration Policy Attorney, National Immigration Law Center; and Adam Luna, Director, Own the Dream Campaign. To register for this free webinar, visit https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/123992774. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you have questions, email us at support@immigrationadvocates.org.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association, through the Allegheny County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, in conjunction with and sponsored by MSA, The Safety Company, proudly brings you this Wills for Heroes program. Wills for Heroes is a free and easy service that provides Wills, Living Wills, Health Care and Financial Powers of Attorney to Pennsylvania's first responders and their spouses/partners. Programs are staffed by lawyer volunteers and are conveniently offered to first responders at meeting halls and police and fire stations. On June 1, 2013, volunteer lawyers, will be conducting a Wills for Heroes Day, sponsored by MSA, The Safety Company, for City of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters Local No.1 personnel and their spouses or significant others. The event will be at the Fire Training Academy at 1601 Washington Boulevard, Pittsburgh, P A 15206 beginning at 8:30 am.. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Angel Revelant, arevelant@pollockbegg.com. For more information on the program visit the Wills for Heroes Foundation at www.willsforheroes.org. Invitation to this Event Information for First Responders Questionnaire for First Responders Information for Lawyer Volunteers Online Registration Form for Lawyer Volunteers Wills for Heroes Foundation Web Site PA Bar Association YLD Website Wills for Heroes - Pennsylvania on Facebook

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Wills for Heroes Foundation are hosting upcoming events across Pennsylvania. At these events, free wills and powers of attorney are prepared for police officers, firefighters and other first responders who risk their lives every day to make sure our communities are safe. Programs are staffed by lawyer volunteers and are conveniently offered to first responders at meeting halls and police and fire stations. On Saturday, October 26, 2013, volunteer lawyers will be conducting a Wills for Heroes Program for all active and retired Pennsylvania First Responders of the Central Bucks Ambulance & Rescue Unit, all sworn personnel and their spouses or significant others (please note that proof of your affiliation will be requested at the event). The October 26th event will be held at the Central Bucks Ambulance & Rescue Unit, 455 East St, Doylestown, PA.beginning at 9 am. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Jennifer Murphy, jennimurphy@comcast.net, or Sandy Romaszewski, sromaszewski@foxrothschild.com. For more information on the program visit the Wills for Heroes Foundation at www.willsforheroes.org. Information for First Responders Questionnaire for First Responders Information for Lawyer Volunteers Online Registration Form for Lawyer Volunteers Wills for Heroes Foundation Web Site PA Bar Association YLD Website Wills for Heroes - Pennsylvania on Facebook

Community Legal Services' 24th annual Breakfast of Champions will be on June 5, 2013 at Top of the Tower, 3 Logan Square, 1717 Arch Street.in Philadelphia. The event, which is generously sponsored by the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, celebrates the commitment of individuals, law firms, and foundations to the cause of equal access to justice for all. At this year's Breakfast of Champions, CLS will honor Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP with the Hall of Fame Award. CLS will also recognize Raynes McCarty and Dechert LLP's Joseph A. Tate, Esq. with Champion of Justice Awards, and present Equal Justice Awards to Cynthia Harmon and Gail Thompkins of CLS, and to Mark S. Schwartz, Esq. of Regional Housing Legal Services. The Honorable Mark I. Bernstein, Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, will give the morning's keynote address. To register for this free event, or for more information, please visit http://clsbreakfast2013-eac2.eventbrite.com.

Community Legal Services' 24th annual Breakfast of Champions will be on June 5, 2013 at Top of the Tower, 3 Logan Square, 1717 Arch Street.in Philadelphia. The event, which is generously sponsored by the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, celebrates the commitment of individuals, law firms, and foundations to the cause of equal access to justice for all. At this year's Breakfast of Champions, CLS will honor Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP with the Hall of Fame Award. CLS will also recognize Raynes McCarty and Dechert LLP's Joseph A. Tate, Esq. with Champion of Justice Awards, and present Equal Justice Awards to Cynthia Harmon and Gail Thompkins of CLS, and to Mark S. Schwartz, Esq. of Regional Housing Legal Services. The Honorable Mark I. Bernstein, Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District, will give the morning's keynote address. To register for this free event, or for more information, please visit http://clsbreakfast2013-eac2.eventbrite.com.

The Allegheny County Bar Association Family Division Pro Bono Committee will host a one-hour panel discussion on the interplay between child support and custody issues: Thursday, May 2, 2013, 12:00 p.m. Conference Center/Auditorium 920 City County Bldg., 414 Grant Street Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Panelists will include Support Hearing Officer Barbara Payne and Manager of the Custody Department of the Family Division Amy Ross. The program will focus on the relationship between custody and child support, such as how modifications to custody affect support. The panelists will also offer practical advice to pro bono attorneys. Attorneys who represent low-income clients through the Custody Conciliation Pro Bono Project or through community legal clinics are especially encouraged to attend. Please plan to attend, bring your lunch, and spread the word to other pro bono attorneys who may benefit from this training. RSVP to Elizabeth Warner Altman at ealtman@grblaw.com. CLICK HERE to add this event to your calendar.

The Practising Law Institiute will be holding a FREE audio-only webcast entitled, Violence Against Women Act 2013, on April 29, 2013, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has been a valuable tool for both law enforcement and immigration practitioners alike. The legislation has helped survivors of domestic and sexual violence come out the shadows and it has provided a mechanism for regularizing the immigration status of these survivors. VAWA 2013 now extends protections to other vulnerable groups. Please join M. Audrey Carr, Director of Immigration and Special Programs at Legal Services NYC, and Julie E. Dinnerstein, Co-Director of the Immigration Intervention Project at Sanctuary for Families, for a free One-Hour briefing on VAWA 2013. Topics to be discussed include: The history of VAWA Expanded protections under VAWA 2013 Immigration Provisions of VAWA 2013 Attorneys of all backgrounds, expertise, and experience are welcome. More Information and Registration

Please join Equal Justice Works on Friday, April 26, 2013 at 3:00pm EST for a webinar entitled Helping Those Who Served: Addressing the Legal Needs of Veterans. The presentation will provide an overview on the various career paths available to those interested in practicing veterans law. Current and former AmeriCorps Legal Fellows will discuss the differences between practicing veterans law at a government agency and a legal aid or nonprofit organization. Fellows will provide insight and advice to law students and current attorneys interested in pursuing a career in either of these fields. We will end with a discussion on funding opportunities and the Equal Justice Works Veterans Legal Corps, Equal Justice Works Fellowships and Summer Corps programs. If you cannot attend the live webinar when scheduled, we highly recommend you still register as a participant. All registered participants will receive a recording of the webinar after the presentation.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Wills for Heroes Foundation are hosting upcoming events across Pennsylvania. At these events, free wills and powers of attorney are prepared for police officers, firefighters and other first responders who risk their lives every day to make sure our communities are safe. Programs are staffed by lawyer volunteers and are conveniently offered to first responders at meeting halls and police and fire stations. On Saturday, May 18, 2013, volunteer lawyers will be conducting a Wills for Heroes Program for all active and retired Pennsylvania First Responders, all sworn personnel and their spouses or significant others (please note that proof of affiliation will be requested at the event). The May 18th event will be held at the Bendersville Community Fire Company, P.O. Box 254, 144 Park St., Bendersville, PA 17306. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Holly Lewis at hollylewis@aol.com. For more information on the program, visit the Wills for Heroes Foundation at www.willsforheroes.org or the other links below. Information for First Responders Questionnaire for First Responders Information for Lawyer Volunteers Online Registration Form for Lawyer Volunteers Wills for Heroes Foundation Web Site PA Bar Association YLD Website Wills for Heroes - Pennsylvania on Facebook

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Wills for Heroes Foundation are hosting upcoming events across Pennsylvania. At these events, free wills and powers of attorney are prepared for police officers, firefighters and other first responders who risk their lives every day to make sure our communities are safe. Programs are staffed by lawyer volunteers and are conveniently offered to first responders at meeting halls and police and fire stations. On Saturday, June 29, 2013, volunteer lawyers will be conducting a Wills for Heroes Program for all active and retired Pennsylvania First Responders, all sworn personnel and their spouses or significant others (please note that proof of affiliation will be requested at the event). The June 29th event will be held at the Lock Haven University - Clearfield Campus, 201 University Drive, Clearfield, PA 16830. For more information on the program, visit the Wills for Heroes Foundation at www.willsforheroes.org or the other links below. Information for First Responders Questionnaire for First Responders Information for Lawyer Volunteers Online Registration Form for Lawyer Volunteers Wills for Heroes Foundation Web Site PA Bar Association YLD Website Wills for Heroes - Pennsylvania on Facebook

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the Wills for Heroes Foundation are hosting upcoming events across Pennsylvania. At these events, free wills and powers of attorney are prepared for police officers, firefighters and other first responders who risk their lives every day to make sure our communities are safe. Programs are staffed by lawyer volunteers and are conveniently offered to first responders at meeting halls and police and fire stations. On Saturday, May 4, 2013, volunteer lawyers will be conducting a Wills for Heroes Program for all active and retired Pennsylvania First Responders, all sworn personnel and their spouses or significant others (please note that proof of affiliation will be requested at the event). The May 4th event will be held at the Union Water Works Fire Co., 2875 Water Works Way, Annville, PA 17003. If you have any questions about this event, please contact Christina Fisher at christina.fisher.willsforheroes@gmail.com. For more information on the program, visit the Wills for Heroes Foundation at www.willsforheroes.org or the other links below. Information for First Responders Questionnaire for First Responders Information for Lawyer Volunteers Online Registration Form for Lawyer Volunteers Wills for Heroes Foundation Web Site PA Bar Association YLD Website Wills for Heroes - Pennsylvania on Facebook