HARRISBURG (Sept. 8, 2010) - Technological advances often play substantial roles in the development of new laws and regulations. Expanding reproductive technologies, neuroscience breakthroughs and the need for risk assessments posed by scientific advancement have never been more relevant to the legal process.

The Oct. 4 "Pennsylvania Bar Association Law Policy Forum: Laws on the Frontier of Technology" brings together prominent academic experts from Pennsylvania law schools to discuss technology's transformation of legal policy. The program, which carries six CLE credits (one may be applied toward Ethics), will be presented live at the CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Building, Philadelphia, and simulcast to Mechanicsburg and Pittsburgh.

"The Law Policy Forum provides lawyers with a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about the impact of scientific breakthroughs on practical legal application," said PBA President Gretchen A. Mundorff. "We look forward to continued cooperation among the organized bar and the state's law schools to address these important legal issues confronting our profession and our society."

The day-long forum includes three informational sessions:

• "Assessing Risk in Today's Technology" will detail how effective risk assessment could help minimize the impact of avoidable disasters such as this year's oil spill in the Gulf with the following presenters: Jamison Colburn, professor, The Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University; Roger Dennis, dean, Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University; Alex Geisinger, professor, Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University; and Karl Okomoto, professor, Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University.
  
  
• "Neuroscience Issues: Cutting Edge Issues Affecting Today's Courts" will present data about the role neuroscience could place in the determination of guilt, innocence, punishment, bias and truth-telling with the following presenters: Steven Morse, professor, University of Pennsylvania Law School (moderator); Stephen Erickson, professor, Widener School of Law; and Charles Keckler, professor; The Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University.
  
  
• "Reproductive Issues: A Brave New Frontier" will include discussion about the ethical implications posed by reproductive technologies with the following presenters: Arthur Caplan, professor, University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics (moderator); John Culhane, professor, Widener School of Law; Jill Engle, professor, Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University; Theresa Glennon, professor, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Mary Kate Kearney, professor, Widener School of Law; and Alan Meisel, professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Law

The program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association; Beasley School of Law, Temple University; Earle Mack School of Law, Drexel University; Dickinson School of Law, The Pennsylvania State University; Duquesne University Law School; University of Pennsylvania Law School; University of Pittsburgh School of Law; Villanova University School of Law; and Widener University School of Law.

"The Law Policy Forum affords us the chance to participate in an important statewide dialogue regarding some of the most critical and complicated issues of our time," Kathryn Lease Simpson, the forum's chair. "We acknowledge the contributions of each of the participating law schools and their deans who have generously identified outstanding professors who have studied, lectured and published widely on these important topics."

Additional information about the forum and online registration is available on the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's website: www.pbi.org.