The administrative board of the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership invites you to attend its annual meeting on Thursday, October 21, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., at the Rivers Club in Pittsburgh. They are honored this year to have as their keynote speaker Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille. His remarks will be followed by "The Top Ten Reasons I Don't Do Pro Bono"--a fun and interactive program that will explore the challenges and rewards of providing free legal services to low-income clients through Partnership programs. Come learn about the pro bono Signature Projects of your fellow members and hear how your law firm or legal department can contribute to the ongoing success of the Partnership. If your law firm or legal department is not yet a member, join us at the breakfast and see what you have been missing. To R.S.V.P. for the breakfast or to learn more about the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership, contact Barbara Kern at kernb@nlsa.us or 412-586-6138.

This program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC), the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Immigration Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and the Pittsburgh Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Center (PRIAC) of the Jewish Family and Children's Service of Pittsburgh. It will be hosted by the law firm of Fox Rothschild LLP, 625 Liberty Avenue, 29th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Designed for practitioners with little or no previous experience with immigration law, the training will touch upon both basic and intermediate aspects of defending non-citizen clients in deportation proceedings. The trainer will cover a range of relevant topics, including a background of removal proceedings, information regarding mandatory and/or prolonged detention, immigration bond, and common forms of relief. Space for this program is limited. Registration is FREE for attorneys who agree to represent an immigrant in a case referred by PIRC or PRIAC. Further details and registration information will be announced as soon as they are available.

Compassion fatigue is an occupational hazard for professionals who are exposed to trauma, violence, and personal injury. How can judges, lawyers, social workers, and others working in the Family Division balance the need to be engaged with their work with the need to maintain professional distance? The ACBA Juvenile Law Committee is pleased to host Dr. Joanne Dixon for a presentation on compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. Dr. Dixon will discuss the findings of a national survey on the compassion fatigue experienced by judges, as well as the findings of a local survey of Family Division judges and practitioners, and identify proven coping and prevention techniques. Registration: 12:30 p.m. Program: 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Assessment: $60.00 for ACBA Members $80.00 for Non-ACBA Members Approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board for 3 hours of Substantive CLE credits. Program Details and Registration Information Online Registration

The Legal Intelligencer, in association with Philadelphia VIP is holding a Pro Bono Breakfast on Tuesday September 21, 2010, from 8:30 AM - 10:00AM, at The Union League, Broad & Sansom Streets, Philadelphia. Registration begins at 8:00 AM. This breakfast is to honor those Pennsylvania attorneys that have dedicated themselves to helping their communities through Pro-Bono service, our: "Unsung Heroes" Show your support by attending or sponsoring this event. Platinum, Gold & Silver level sponsorships available. To purchase tickets contact Diane McCollum at 215-557-2335 or dmccollum@alm.com Or go to www.thelegalintel.com/probono/ Price for single attendees: $40 Price for table of ten: $350 Special Pricing Available for Non-Profit Organizations (Call for details) For sponsorship details, contact: Donald Chalphin: 215-557-2359 or dchalphin@alm.com.

Learn how to transfer title of a property into your client's name through the filing of a Quiet Title action. Philadelphia VIP, the hub of pro bono legal services in Philadelphia, is sponsoring a free CLE Training Program for attorneys on the topic of : Quiet Title Actions Friday, September 24, 2010 12:00pm to 2:15pm Fox Rothschild LLP 2000 Market Street, 20th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 Trainer: Ed Hayes, Esq. Partner, Fox Rothschild, LLP The training will cover the legal grounds, procedures, and forms for bringing a Quiet Title Action, with an emphasis on the issues that low-income clients frequently encounter in obtaining title to a property. Lunch will be provided. Each attorney who attends and accepts a VIP pro bono case within 6 months of the training will earn two free substantive CLE credits. Register at phillyvip@phillyvip.org or by calling (215)523-9550. For more information, please contact Christina Ortiz at (215) 523-9550.

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. For information about the York event contact Mac Brillhart. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. 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

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. Information on the Trevose Event [PDF] 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

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. Information on the Trevose Event [PDF] 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

The Pennsylvania Bar Institute is offering Practice before the Department of Veterans Affairs on August 12, 2010, Live from Mechanicsburg and via Simulcast and Webcast across the state. Effective July 1, 2008, any attorney wishing to assist claimants in the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for VA benefits must be accredited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) for that purpose. The initial accreditation process consists of application (VA Form 21a) to the General Counsel of the VA, self certification of admission information concerning practice before any other court, bar, or State or Federal Agency, and a determination of character and fitness. To download the Appointment of Individual as Claimant's Representative Form go to: www.va.gov/va forms. The General Counsel will presume an attorney's character and fitness to practice before the DVA based on State Bar membership in good standing unless the General Counsel receives credible information to the contrary. As a further condition of initial accreditation, attorneys are required to complete at least 3 hours of qualifying continuing legal education (CLE) during the first 12 month period following the date of initial accreditation by DVA. To qualify, a CLE course must be approved by any State Bar Association, and at a minimum must cover the following topics: representation before the DVA, claims procedures, basic eligibility for VA benefits, right to appeal, disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation and pension. To maintain accreditation, attorneys must complete an additional 3 hours of qualifying CLE on veterans benefits law and procedure not later than 3 years from the date of initial accreditation and every 2 years thereafter. The Pennsylvania Bar Institute is pleased to present this initial training requirement. Join the expert faculty as they present a program that will meet and surpass the requirements set down by DVA . Please Note: It is the view of the DVA that you must complete the initial accreditation process before taking the CLE requirement. Should you have questions about the DVA CLE requirement, you can call 202-461-4995 for clarification. This program is being offered live and at a number of simulcast locations. The live presentation will be at: PBI Conference Center 5080 Ritter Road Rossmoyne Exit, Rt. 15 Mechanicsburg, PA Click here for more information and to register for the Live presentation or one of the Simulcast locations. Additionally, this course is offered via live webcast simultaneously with the satellite broadcast. Click here to register for the live webcast.

Community Legal Services will hold its inaugural 5K Run/Walk fundraiser, the Justice For All 5K, on October 10, 2010. The Justice For All 5K is an opportunity for CLS staff, alumni, local attorneys, law students, and community members to celebrate the impact of CLS' work. All proceeds from the event will support CLS' mission of providing equal access to justice to low income Philadelphians. In addition to individual, legal/corporate, and club team competitions, the Justice For All 5K will feature a Law School Challenge in which teams from area law schools will compete against one another. Our 5K is a one-loop, USATF-certified course (#PA10012WB). Click here to see the course map. Date: October 10, 2010, 8:30 a.m. (rain or shine) Location: Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park (4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131) Individual/Open Run Competition: Individual runners and walkers will enter the open run division. The top female and male runners in each age group will receive an award. The top female and male runners overall will receive a prize and an award. Law School Challenge: CLS invites Philadelphia-area law schools to enter teams of 4 or more students and/or faculty members in the race. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams and to the team with the most pre-registered participants. Each law school may enter multiple teams. The Law School Challenge is presented by WestlawNext. Legal/Corporate Competition: Law firms, corporations, and businesses may enter teams of 4-6 participants in the legal/corporate team competition. A prize will be awarded to the top team in the legal/corporate competition. Law firms, corporations, and businesses may enter more than one team in the competition. Club Team Competition: Running groups and clubs may enter teams of 4-6 participants in the club team competition. A prize will be awarded to the top team in the club team competition. Running groups or clubs may enter more than one team in the competition. All participants will receive a short-sleeved race T-shirt while supplies last. Registration Fees: $20 to Walk $25 to Run $25 for Law School Challenge Participants $30 to Register on Race Day $35 for Legal/Corporate or Club Team Competition participants Registration: Online registration will begin in June. Check here for Registration and more information. Contact Lauren Kobylarz at lkobylarz@clsphila.org for more information.

Building on the extraordinary success of the first annual National Pro Bono Celebration in 2009, the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service is sponsoring the Celebration again this year October 24 through 30, 2010. The Celebration is a coordinated national effort to meet the ever-growing needs of this country's most vulnerable citizens by encouraging and supporting local efforts to expand the delivery of pro bono legal services, and by showcasing the great difference that pro bono lawyers make to the nation, its system of justice, its communities and, most of all, to the clients they serve. Although national in breadth, the Celebration provides an opportunity for local legal associations across the country to take the next step in their efforts to provide high quality legal services to those living on the social margins. A guiding principle of the Pro Bono Committee is to support these local efforts and to assist in their growth and effectiveness. A special website, www.CelebrateProBono.org, provides this support by providing information, planning guides, resources, and consultation services.