Mary E. Schellhammer and Paul C. Troy
Co-Chairs, Bar Leadership Institute Committee

Members of the 2011-12 PBA Bar Leadership Institute (BLI) class attended a series of fall 2011 meetings and events in Harrisburg, including the PBA Board of Governors' meeting and the PBA House of Delegates' meeting, to learn about the association's governance. The main goal of the BLI is to prepare young lawyers for future leadership opportunities within the PBA. Current class members are pictured above with PBA President Matthew J. Creme Jr. and Mary E. Schellhammer and Paul C. Troy, co-chairs of the BLI Committee. Recruitment of the next BLI class begins in early spring. For more information, check here on the BLI webpage and contact the PBA's Susan Etter at susan.etter@pabar.org.

This year's class, selected from a field of 39 candidates, includes the following participants:
Lars H. Anderson, Hourigan Kluger & Quinn P.C., Kingston
Roy L. Galloway III, Law Office of Roy Galloway L.L.C., Harrisburg
Samara Gomez, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Harrisburg
Louis J. Kroeck IV, Anstandig, McDyer and Yurcon P.C., Pittsburgh
Melissa M. Leininger, Schmidt Kramer P.C., Harrisburg
Jill Kelly McComsey, Seidel Cohen Hof & Reid L.L.C., Bethlehem
Tyra Oliver, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, Pittsburgh
Megan Riesmeyer, Penn State Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle
Gerald L. Shoemaker, Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin, Norristown
Lauren L. Sorrentino, Momjian Anderer L.L.C., Philadelphia
Alison P. Wasserman, Dimmich & Dinkelacker P.C., Orefield

Learn about the Bar Leadership Institute Class of 2010-2011.

Helpful Resources

The purpose of the Pennsylvania Bar Association as stated in the by-laws and original charter:

• to advance the science of jurisprudence;
• to promote the administration of justice;
• to see that no one, on account of poverty, is denied his or her legal rights;
• to secure proper legislation;
• to encourage a thorough legal education;
• to uphold the honor and dignity of the Bar;
• to cultivate cordial relations among the lawyers of Pennsylvania; and
• to perpetuate the history of the profession and the memory of its members.

BLI participants will learn about the day-to-day operations, governance, resources and staffing of the association. Participants will be introduced to the various leadership opportunities within the PBA and each participant will be paired with an experienced and committed mentor who is a member of the Board of Governors.

Bar Leadership Institute Overview

The Pennsylvania Bar Association: A Brief History
This is a wonderful article from the January/February 2010 edition of the Pennsylvania Lawyer. It was written by the late Ted Stellwag, executive director emeritus of the PBA. Stellwag had an abiding love of history and historic preservation, especially when it came to the PBA and the Maclay Mansion, the PBA headquarters building in Harrisburg. This is a "must-read" for all PBA members.

The PBA Instruction Manual
A very helpful article written by PBA Communications Manager, Jeff Gingerich to help you understand the basics of how the PBA works so you can get the most out of belonging. It explains how the PBA is generally organized, how every member can take a leadership role (if ho or she wants to) and how every member can promote change in the association's policies and in the legal profession.

Arriving with a Reputation as a Consensus-Builder Interview and profile of PBA President Matthew J. Creme, Jr.

Seeing the PBA as an 'Extended Family' for Lawyers: Interview with Immediate Past PBA President Gretchen Mundorff

Lawyers as Community Builders
A commentary written by JoAnne Epps, Dean, Temple University Beasley School of Law, offering some perspective on the community role of lawyers and the importance of including minority lawyers as full participants and sources of influence.

Where Does Our PABAR-PAC Money Go, Anyway?
A commentary by former PBA President William P. Carlucci.

How Pennsylvania's Legal Aid System is Organized
An article written by Samuel Milkes, executive director of Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, the statewide coordinating organization for 10 regional legal services programs and six specialized legal resource programs.

Your Mother Cares about Excuses, Your Audience Cares about Results: How to prepare powerful presentations
In this article author David J. Dempsey notes, "An engaging and persuasive message could mean the difference between you exiting the courtroom as the victor or the vanquished. You have only one chance to make the right impression."

Great Mentors
Veteran lawyer, Cliff Rieders, shares his thoughts on the people who have helped, guided and influenced his life and career in the law - and the qualities they have in common.