HARRISBURG (April 24, 2015) - Judith Bernstein-Baker, executive director of HIAS Pennsylvania, will receive the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Immigration Law Pro Bono Award on May 6 during the PBA Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia Hotel, Philadelphia.

The award recognizes a PBA member practicing immigration law who has provided a unique service that has result in significant provision of legal services on a pro bono basis to the neediest of foreign nationals. The winner is selected in consultation with PBA leadership and is sponsored by the law firm of Green and Spiegel LLC, which has made a donation of $2,500 in Bernstein-Baker's honor to the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation to benefit the PBA Pro Bono Office.

Bernstein-Baker has served as HIAS Pennsylvania's executive director since 1998.

Bernstein-Baker teaches immigration law at Philadelphia Community College and serves as the pro bono liaison for the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers' Association. She has published several articles on immigration issues and public interest law. She has served as co-vice chair of the PBA Immigration Law Committee.

Prior to joining HIAS Pennsylvania, Bernstein-Baker oversaw the University of Pennsylvania Law School's public service program. She was named an Honorary Fellow of the law school in 1998.

Bernstein-Baker holds an undergraduate degree from Binghamton University, a master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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.