Philadelphia Bar Hosts Panel on Loan Repayment Assistance, Sept. 16, 2009
A panel discussion on loan repayment assistance programs was held Sept. 16, co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division and the Public Interest Section's Delivery of Legal Services Committee. Featured was Heather Jarvis, senior program manager for law school advocacy and outreach resources at Equal Justice Works. She is a national expert on educational debt and the financial barriers facing law graduates and has been a leading player nationally in advocating for and now interpreting the new federal student loan forgiveness law, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.

PBA Supports Full Funding of the Courts in 2009-10 State Budget
Court funding and civil legal services funding for citizen access to justice are major concerns for the members of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Severe budget cuts in the areas of court funding and civil legal services will result in justice denied for citizens across the commonwealth. The courts of Pennsylvania are currently faced with the possibility of an absolute reduction of funding in the 2009-10 budget year. The governor's budget proposal includes a funding cut that translates to an elimination of approximately $34 million in court functions for the judiciary statewide. The association declared its stance in support of court funding in a resolution passed by the PBA House of Delegates on June 4, 2009.

Legal Services to the Public Committee's Pro Bono Resolution Tabled May 7, 2009
The PBA Legal Services to the Public Committee's committee/section pro bono reporting resolution, presented to the PBA Board of Governors at their May 7 meeting by Vicki Coyle, committee chair, and Andy Susko, PBA immediate past president, has been withdrawn for additional review by PBA committees and sections. At the meeting, Coyle and Susko addressed the misperception that the proposed resolution would require members to report on their own pro bono activities; however, Coyle withdrew the resolution for additional discussions with the affected committees and sections. During the meeting, Susko summarized the concerns as follows: Why does an individual section or committee have any burden on pro bono when the obligation is an association-wide and individual attorney responsibility? David Trevaskis, PBA pro bono coordinator, noted that since the work of the PBA is accomplished through its committees and sections, every committee and section should be looking at how it can help its members fulfill the aspirational goal of providing pro bono service to the neediest among us. Click here for the resolution presented May 7.

PBA House of Delegates Approves Two Legal Services to the Public Committee Resolutions, Nov. 30, 2007
    Resolution for Increased Funding for Legal Services
    Resolution on a Limited Right to Counsel in Civil Cases
    PA Legal Aid Network Announcement of the PBA House Action
    Video Statement by ABA Past President Michael S. Greco Supporting the "Civil Right to Counsel” Resolution
    Text of Statement by ABA Past President Michael S. Greco Supporting the "Civil Right to Counsel” Resolution

Resolution in Support of Enhanced Private Attorney Involvement with LSC-Funded Programs, Adopted by the LSC Board, April 28, 2007

Report and Recommendation of the Task Force on Legal Needs of Middle Income People Approved by the PBA Board and House of Delegates, June 2007

Pro Bono 'Aspirational' Resolution Approved by PBA Board and House of Delegates, June 2007

Conference of California Resolution, October 2006

Resolution Regarding Access to Justice Act, June 15, 2005

Recommendations that passed the PBA Board of Governors and House of Delegates in 1999

Recap of Board and House Action 1989-2003