HARRISBURG (Feb. 26, 2016) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association presented County Bar Recognition Awards during the 50th Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders, Feb. 25 � 27, at the Nittany Lion Inn, State College. Twenty-four county bar associations in Pennsylvania were honored this year for sponsoring projects that improve the legal profession, justice system and community. The awards, which are non-competitive in nature, are presented annually by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

"Numerous projects and programs aimed at improving communities and the legal profession are successfully completed each year thanks to the voluntary efforts of lawyers involved in local bar associations," said William H. Pugh V, PBA president. "We are proud to highlight their good works and hope this recognition inspires more legal professionals to participate in future efforts."

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

Allegheny County Bar Association: ACBA Planning Ahead Guide
Beaver County Bar Association: Children and Youth Services Holiday Drive and Best Friends' Spring Jamboree "Fiesta" Picnic
Berks County Bar Association: Community Workshops
Bucks County Bar Association: Women Lawyers Division Clothing Drive for CareerLink
Centre County Bar Association: Centre County Law Day
Chester County Bar Association: Advocacy Academy and 1L Diverse Law Student Summer Program
Cumberland County Bar Association: Adopt-a-Family 2015 and Law Day: Magna Carta
Dauphin County Bar Association: Lawyers for the Arts
Delaware County Bar Association: Mentoring Program
Erie County Bar Association: The Senior Law Project and Judicial Elections Education
Franklin County Bar Association: YLD Wills for Heroes and YLD Law Day Mock Trial
Lackawanna Bar Association: 125th Year Anniversary
Lancaster Bar Association: Enhanced Member Benefits Program
Lebanon County Bar Association: "Hire a Local Lawyer" Campaign
Lycoming Law Association: Wills for Heroes, Law Day and Mock Trial Competition, and Angel Tree Project
Monroe County Bar Association: Monroe County Bar Association Celebrates 100 Years! and MCBA Funds the Community
Montgomery Bar Association: Informed Choices 2015, Keystone Leadership Celebration and Bar Guide Program
Northampton County Bar Association: Positive Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills Program for Easton Middle School
Pike County Bar Association: Wills for Heroes and "All Star" Potpourri CLE
Schuylkill County Bar Association: Bench-Bar Conference, 100th Anniversary Celebration and Superior Court Session
Washington County Bar Association: Shred Day and City Mission Project
Westmoreland Bar Association: Strategic Plan, Drug Court and IrvTalks
Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association: After the Child Abuse Report: What You Need to Know � A Medical/Legal Event, 250th Anniversary of Thomas Jefferson Passing the Bar: A Public Legal Seminar and CLE Program, and Travel CLE Committee
York County Bar Association: Wills for Heroes, Impact Grants, Legal Aid and Scholarships, and Legal Aid Community Summit

The Conference of County Bar Leaders, whose membership includes leaders from county bar associations throughout the state and from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, organizes a yearly educational conference focusing on the exchange of innovative bar association projects and ideas and on the development of mutually-beneficial relationships among bar leaders that improve the legal profession.

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 27,000 lawyers who are members of the association.