HARRISBURG (March 23, 2007) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) presented County Bar Recognition awards during the 41st Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders Feb. 23 in Hershey, Pa. Twenty-four local bar associations in Pennsylvania were honored this year for sponsoring projects that work to improve the legal profession, justice system or community. The awards, which are non-competitive in nature, are sponsored annually by the PBA.

"The outstanding efforts of Pennsylvania lawyers to better their communities and the legal system deserve to be properly recognized," said PBA President Kenneth J. Horoho Jr. "It is our hope that the County Bar Recognition awards encourage more legal professionals to take part in community and educational activities."

The following local bar associations received awards for notable projects and programs:

Allegheny County Bar Association: Loan Repayment Assistance Program
Bar Association of Lehigh County: Holiday Assistance Program
Berks County Bar Association: Lawyer Retreat with Continuing Legal Education Seminars
Bucks County Bar Association: Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts
Cambria County Bar Association: Identity Theft Awareness Project
Centre County Bar Association: Bench Bar Day Film Program and Reception, Law Day and Mock Trial Competition
Chester County Bar Association: Access to Social Justice Supplement and CCBA Web Site
Cumberland County Bar Association: Florian Project, Young Lawyers Division Casino Night and Partners Program
Dauphin County Bar Association: Women Lawyers as Leaders Seminar Series, Capital Area Managing Partners 1L Summer Intern Program and Pro Bono for Nonprofit Initiative
Delaware County Bar Association: Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee's Voluntary Settlement Program and Criminal Trial Practices Committee/Sub-Committee's Indigent Defense Program Reforms
Erie County Bar Association: Law Day Run
Franklin County Bar Association: Pro Se Divorce Clinic and Members Resource Committee
Lackawanna Bar Association: 25th Annual Bench Bar Conference, Young Lawyers Division's St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen Host for a Day Outreach and "Freedom Rider to Courtroom Fighter" Symposium
Lancaster Bar Association: Computer Lab
Lebanon County Bar Association: Distinguished Bar Member Dinner
Lycoming Law Association: Lawctoberfest, Law Day 2006 and Superior Court Banquet, and Community Activities and Outreach Committee and LLA Foundation Grants
Monroe County Bar Association: Monroe County Bar Foundation's Warm Holidays for Children Project, Public Forum on Identity Theft and Relay for Life
Montgomery Bar Association: "Immigration: The Real Issues Behind the Headlines" Public Symposium, Forward Focus Survey and Long Range Plan and Inaugural Solo and Small Firm Practice Institute
Northampton County Bar Association: 2006 Bench/Bar Conference, "How to be a Good Citizen" Contest and Law Day
Northumberland County Bar Association: Contributions to Renovations for Courtroom Number 2
Schuylkill County Bar Association: Memorial Service, President's Dinner and Law Day - Stepping Out Presentations
Washington County Bar Association: Young Lawyer Division (YLD) Miniature Golf and Wine & Beer Tasting Tournament, YLD Disaster Victim Resource Guide and New Bar Headquarters
Westmoreland Bar Association: Young Lawyers' Family Activities and E-Letter
Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association: Judge Jonathan J. Wright Special Lifetime Admission Ceremony, Dedication of the Max Rosenn Memorial Library and Religious Outreach Committee

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.