HARRISBURG (Feb. 28, 2011) - The Conference of County Bar Leaders (CCBL) of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) has honored Kathy Sabol, executive director of the Washington County Bar Association, with its 14th annual Arthur J. Birdsall Award during the 45th Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders in State College, Pa.

The award is presented to a county bar executive who demonstrates professional excellence, who is committed to the success of his or her bar association and who significantly enhances the stature of his or her bar association. The award is named in honor of Arthur J. Birdsall, the PBA's county bar services director who retired after nearly 40 years of support to local bar associations.

Sabol has served as executive director of the Washington County Bar Association for 14 years. During Sabol's tenure, the association's membership has increased by 20 percent.

Sabol organizes programs that promote the positive works of the county's lawyers and that provide educational and networking opportunities for the association's members. Programs created and implemented by Sabol have received state and national awards.

Also active at the state level of bar leadership, Sabol assists with planning and participates in annual programming provided by the CCBL and the Pennsylvania Association of Bar Executives.

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 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.