HARRISBURG (Feb. 25, 2010) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) presented County Bar Recognition Awards during the 44th Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders, Feb. 25 - 27, in Lancaster. Twenty-six local bar associations in Pennsylvania were honored for sponsoring projects and programs to improve the legal profession, justice system and community. The awards, which are non-competitive in nature, are sponsored annually by the PBA.

"Each year, thousands of Pennsylvania lawyers voluntarily invest their time and expertise in programs that improve our local communities and this ongoing commitment to service is to be commended," said PBA President Clifford E. Haines. "It is our hope that the County Bar Recognition Awards will encourage even more legal professionals to take part in activities that make positive impacts on the lives of their fellow citizens."

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

Allegheny County Bar Association: Backpack Project
Berks County Bar Association: Speed Networking Events and Diversity Pipeline
Blair County Bar Association: Credit Card Court "Low Bono" Assistance Program
Bucks County Bar Association: Diversity Symposium and Sexting Prevention Task Force
Butler County Bar Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Helpdesk, Red Mass and Hymn, and Charles E. Dillon Memorial Cup
Centre County Bar Association: Eugene W. Lederer Bar Center Opening, "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Helpdesk and Naturalization Day Ceremony
Chester County Bar Association: TRIAL RUN Event, Wings for Success Clothing Drive and Veterans Day Celebration
Clearfield County Bar Association: Legal Eagles 9
Cumberland County Bar Association: Law Day 2009
Dauphin County Bar Association: New Membership Benefit
Delaware County Bar Association: District Justice Committee - Free Seminars to the Community, Community Outreach Committee - Working Wardrobe Clothing Drive and Corporate Counsel Committee - Membership Drive
Erie County Bar Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Helpdesk
Franklin County Bar Association: Breakfast with the Candidates, Project KidCare Event and Law Day
Lackawanna Bar Association: Legal Legends Seminar
Lancaster Bar Association: "Wills for Heroes" Event
Lebanon County Bar Association: Outstanding Senior Award, Modest Means Program and Pro Bono Recognition Ceremony
Lycoming Law Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Initiative, Lawctoberfest and Law Day 2009
Monroe County Bar Association: Bar Foundation Raffles, Young Lawyers Division's "Spirit of Giving" Events and Superior Court Welcome and Reception
Montgomery Bar Association: MBA 125 - A Yearlong Celebration, Marking 125 Years of Service to the Profession and Community, Montgomery Bar Association 1980 - 2009: Meeting the Challenges of a Dynamic Era Book and the Judicial Candidate Media Project
Northampton County Bar Association: Holiday Hope Chest Project, Project KidCare Event and Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program
Pike County Bar Association: Publication of the Pike County Legal Journal, Formation of Charitable Committee and Continuing Legal Education Program
Schuylkill County Bar Association: Courthouse Bicentennial Pins, Commonwealth Court Dinner, Breast Cancer Awareness Event
Washington County Bar Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Events and "Wills for Heroes: Program
Westmoreland Bar Association: Innocence Project Art Show and Continuing Legal Education Program, Custody Conciliation Partnership with Family Law Committee and Defending the Judiciary
Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association: Juvenile Defense Training and Continuing Legal Education Programs, Centennial Race Judicata and Summer Outing
York County Bar Association: "Sidebar Monthly" Program and Supreme Court Admission Ceremony

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.