HARRISBURG (April 23, 2013) - The Pennsylvania Bar Association Administrative Law Section will present its James S. Bowman Award to John C. Artz, a partner in the Pittsburgh office of the national labor and employment law firm Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart PC. The award will be presented during the state association's Annual Meeting on May 8 at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown, Pittsburgh.

The James S. Bowman Award honors a lawyer who is making a significant impact on the practice of administrative law and who is demonstrating leadership in mentoring administrative law practitioners.

For many years, Artz has served as a course planner and faculty member of professional development programs at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the continuing legal education arm of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. His legal specialties include administrative law and employment benefits such as unemployment compensation and the Federal Black Lung Benefits Act.

Artz serves as a mentor for the Allegheny County Bar Association's program that offers legal representation for indigent unemployment compensation claimants who are clients of the Neighborhood Legal Services Association.

Artz received his legal education at the University of South Carolina, graduating magna cum laude in 1976. He served as notes editor of the South Carolina Law Review, and was admitted to the Order of Wig and Robe. He received his undergraduate degree in 1968 from Allegheny College, where he was a Distinguished Military Graduate of Air Force ROTC.

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 28,000 lawyers who are members of the association.