Remembering Judge Anthony J. DeFino, a Great Philadelphia Jurist

Gina Furia Rubel & The Honorable Anthony J. DeFino, Beccaria Award 2008

The passing of The Honorable Anthony J. DeFino last night is a terrible tragedy.  The news reported that the Judge’s home on the 2500 block of 20th Street in South Philadelphia caught fire. The Judge did not make it out alive.

Today, the Philadelphia legal community mourns along with his wife Rose, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. My heart and prayers go out to all of them.

Judge DeFino was known to so many people in so many different ways. He was a devoted family man and a zealous jurist. He was a community man and a proud Italian-American.

He was the founder of the Order of Brotherly Love, a past president of the Frank Palumbo Lodge of the Order Sons of Italy in America, and he was an Ex Officio member of the Board of Governors of The Justinian Society of Philadelphia.

I never tried a case in front of his honor, but I did have the pleasure to serve with him on the board of The Justinian Society. Every meeting was brighter and lighter when he was in the room. His smile was contagious.

One fond memory is from 2008. I was the Justinian Chancellor and we honored Judge DeFino with the Cesare Beccaria Award, the highest award given by the Justinian Society in partnership with the Criminal Justice Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

The Beccaria Award is given to an individual who promotes the cause of justice and the advancement of legal education, and who exemplifies the ideals of Cesare Beccaria, an Italian scholar whose writings would help lay the foundation for the modern legal system.

On that day, I quoted the late Honorable Lisa A. Richette, who said, “…it is clear that a voice like Beccaria’s is divinely inspired, and in turn, throughout the centuries, continues to uplift us to a vision of justice luminous with both humanity and discipline. Beccaria’s vision is a lasting memorial to the potential majesty of the law and to the beauty of the human spirit.”

And it was in the spirit of justice that we presented the Beccaria Award to our friend and longtime member, Judge Anthony DeFino, a man with a distinguished career in the field of criminal law.

La morte non ci porta via completamente la persona amata, rimane sempre il suo ricordo che ci incita a continuare. Coraggio. (Death doesn't take away completely a loved person whose memory lasts and induce us to go on with courage.)

May God rest his soul.

Photo credit: Mike Mountain.

Maximizing Talk Shows and Roundtables: Philadelphia Media Panel May 16, 2013

Philadelphia Bar Association Bar-News Media Committee - Media Panel Discussion

Co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) and Delaware Valley Law Firm Marketing Group (DVLFMG)

Featuring:

Rachel Cieri
Managing Editor, SmartCEO Magazine

Lynn Doyle
Host/Executive Producer of "It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle" on The Comcast Network

Hank Grezlak
Associate Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, The Legal Intelligencer

Wally Kennedy
News Anchor, KYW Newsradio

Moderated by:

Gina Furia Rubel, Esq.
Chair, Bar-News Media Committee (Moderator)

President/CEO, Furia Rubel Marketing and Public Relations

Other panelists to be announced.

Join award-winning Philadelphia region broadcasting and print trailblazers who will discuss the unique challenges of producing and hosting talk shows and roundtables on legal topics. Our all-star panel will share their experiences and challenges reporting on law-related issues, while providing attendees with insights on how they may become better resources and/or interview subjects.

Date: 
Thursday, May 16, 2013

Time: 

12:00 PM

Location: 
Philadelphia Bar Association
1101 Market Street
11th Floor Conference Center
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Registration Info: 
Lunch is available for $8.00 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and PPRA.

Cancellations require 24 hour notice to receive a refund.

Register today for what promises to be an exciting andenlightening conversation between the media and local lawyers.

“The Role Of Lawyers In The Media: The Editors' Perspective”

Posted by Amanda Walsh

Join Gina F. Rubel, Esq. and the Bar-News Media Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 for “The Role of Lawyers in the Media: The Editors' Perspective” panel at noon at the Philadelphia Bar Association.Panel experts include Craig Ey, Editor, Philadelphia Business Journal; Hank Grezlak, Editor-in-Chief, The Legal Intelligencer; Karen Araiza, Managing Editor, NBC10; and Gar Joseph, City Editor, The Daily News and Sarah Blazucki, Editor, Philadelphia Gay News. Gina Rubel will serve as a moderator.

Panelists will share their experiences and challenges reporting on law-related issues and provide insight into how attorneys can become better resources to the news media. The program will also include discussion about local news coverage of legal issues and its intersection with the practice of law. Lunch is available for $8.00 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and $9.50 for non-members. To register, visit: https://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/EventDetails?appNum=1&eventID=NEWS1110

Breaking: PA Supreme Court To Tweet Rulings

I just heard that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is going to tweet its rulings. Check out the details provided by the Associated Press for The Legal Intelligencer. The handle to follow is http://twitter.com/#!/SupremeCtofPA

I find this very interesting considering I just presented at the Philadelphia Bar Association Bench Bar Conference on Social Media and Litigation. One of the recommendations I made is that every law firm and judiciary should adopt a social media policy. I was told that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is looking into just that -- and I was happy to hear it.

In August, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced that they will allow the Pennsylvania Cable Network (PCN) to cover oral arguments. In a press release, Chief Justice Castille said, "My colleagues and I are pleased to open our courtroom to PCN’s statewide audience so they can see how our court operates and follow arguments in cases affecting every citizen of Pennsylvania."

How the times have changed.

Gina Rubel To Present At Bench-Bar Annual Conference In Atlantic City, N.J.

Posted by Amanda Walsh

On Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, Gina F. Rubel will moderate a Bench-Bar Annual Conference Program, “Social Media and Litigation: Wrangling the Wild West” from 11 a.m. to noon at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City. The CLE panelists include Carolyn M. Chopko with Feldman Shepherd Wohlgelernter Tanner Weinstock & Dodig LLP, Wesley R. Payne IV and Sean R. Sullivan with Curtin & Heefner LLP. To learn more, go to Bench-Bar. To register, check out Philadelphia Bar Association.

Follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #BenchBar11 or tweeting to @PhilaBar.

“Shut Up And Say Something: Conversing With The Media When The Stakes Are High” Featuring Karen Friedman

Posted by Amanda Walsh Please join the Philadelphia Bar Association Bar-News Media Committee, chaired by our very own Gina F. Rubel, Esq., and the Law Practice Management Committee on Thursday, March 24, 2011 at 12 p.m. for “Shut Up and Say Something: Conversing with the Media When the Stakes are High” featuring Karen Friedman, President of Karen Friedman Enterprises, Inc. In this eye opening one of a kind session, international communications coach and author of "Shut Up and Say Something: Business Communication Strategies to Overcome Challenges and Influence Listeners" (Praeger 2010), Karen Friedman will show attendees how to harness the power of the media to your advantage. A former award winning television news reporter, Friedman will help attendees understand how to work more effectively with reporters to influence stories and make the media work with them. The meeting will be held at the Philadelphia Bar Association at 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor Conference Center in Philadelphia, Pa. Lunch is available for $8.00 for members of the Philadelphia Bar Association and $9.50 for non-members. For more information and to register for the event: http://www.philadelphiabar.org/page/EventDetails?appNum=4&eventID=NEWS324.

Philly Legal Blawgers Event You Don’t Want To Miss!

Don't miss the "Meet the Legal Blawgers: An Insiders' Perspective on Connecting with the Legal Blogosphere" event on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 12 p.m. presented by the Bar-News Media Committee Meeting of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Furia Rubel Communications' CEO and Bar-News Media Committee chair, Gina Furia Rubel, Esq. will be moderating the event.

Panelists include:

* Jeff Blumenthal, Staff Writer, Philadelphia Business Journal
* Chris Brennan, Political Writer, Philadelphia Daily News, Co-Writer, PhillyClout

* HughE Dillon, Editor, PhillyChitChat.com
* Hank Grezlak, Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, The Legal Intelligencer
* Catherine Lucey, Staff Reporter, Philadelphia Daily News Co-Writer, PhillyClout
* Saul Segan, Esq., Contributor, The Huffington Post

Event Location:

Philadelphia Bar Association

1101 Market Street

11th Floor Conference Center

Philadelphia, Pa 19107

Lunch will be available for $8.00.

To register, please visit The Philadelphia Bar Association website.

For more information about the Bar-News Media Committee, please contact Committee Chair Gina Furia Rubel at Gina@furiarubel.com.

For questions about the event, contact Dawn Petit at 215-238-6367 or via email DPetit@philabar.org.

A Philadelphia Event Not to Be Missed...

Here's an upcoming event not to be missed...

Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP Senior Marketing Manager Shannon Mayforth will serve as a social media panelist at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s 3rd Annual Women in the Profession Summit, “21st Century Issues for the 21st Century Woman Lawyer,” to be held at the Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia on June 16, 2010, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Mayforth, who possesses nearly 10 years of marketing, communications and business development experience, will lend her expertise from the accounting and tax industries perspectives to the panel discussion, “Women Lawyers & Social Media – Ethics, Privacy, and Social Media.” Moderated by Gina F. Rubel, Esq. of the Philadelphia-area Public Relations and Marketing firm Furia Rubel Communications, the discussion will address the use of social media as a law firm and attorney marketing tool, with a focus on related ethical and legal concerns. To learn more about the event, visit http://www.pbi.org/.

Mark Your Calendars: Spring Networking Events in the Philadelphia Area

Here are some great networking and business development events for Philadelphia-area readers of ThePRLawyer to attend this spring:

Gina Rubel will present a program titled “Leveraging Social Media in PR – An Integrated Approach to Contemporary Communications” for the Legal Marketing Association Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter on April 15, 2010 at Table 31 Conference Center in Philadelphia.

On April 19, 2010 Gina Rubel will present as CLE faculty on “Internet Law Updates” for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute.

Be a Business Stand Out With The Right People, The Right Way – Online and With the Media: free tele-class hosted by Nancy Fox (a.k.a. The Business Fox) on Tuesday, April 20, 2010 from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. EST featuring Gina Rubel. Contact Carolyn at The Business Fox for more info.

The Philadelphia Bar Association will be offering a lunch program on “How and When to Share Your Opinion with the Press – Submitting Editorial Pages” on April 22, 2010. Gina Rubel will moderate the program and featured guests include: Bernard Dagenais, Editor of the Philadelphia Business Journal; Hank Grezlak, Associate Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of The Legal Intelligencer; Lisa Hostein, Executive Editor of the Jewish Exponent; Idelle Howitt, Managing Editor of Metropolitan Corporate Counsel; Guy Petroziello, Editorial Page Editor of the Bucks County Courier Times; Irv Randolph, Managing Editor of The Philadelphia Tribune.

The Pennsylvania Bar Institute will be hosting an Environmental Law Forum on April 22, 2010 where Laura Powers will address the use of social media and social networking tools by lawyers. She will explore various forms of social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and blogs as well as address ways that social media can be used effectively – and ethically – by lawyers in marketing their practice.

Network Now of Bucks County, Pa., has launched “Career Connection,” a series of programs and networking opportunities to help women at all stages of career development, especially those entering or re-entering the workforce and in career transition. Gina Rubel will present “Managing Your Online Image: How and When To Use Social Media Professionally” at the Doylestown Health & Wellness Center on Thursday, April 29 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

The Bucks County Bar Association will host CLE program “Distinguishing Yourself in the Practice of Law Through Everyday Public Relations” on May 4, 2010 from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. During the event, Gina Rubel will address the topic of how legal professions can utilize every day public relations to maintain a competitive edge.

On May 5, 2010, Gina Rubel will serve as a keynote speaker at The Lower Bucks Chamber of Commerce’s Social Media for Strategic Public Relations to Grow Your Business Seminar. The event will be held at the Chamber building in Fairless Hills from 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Philadelphia Bar Association Launches Presence on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Group

Get instant access to up-to-the-minute news on Association programs and initiatives, photos from events, and breaking local and national legal news through the Association’s new Facebook page and Twitter feed, both available on many mobile devices as well as online. At the same time, the Association has augmented and re-launched its LinkedIn page as a members-only resource.

The new services can be activated by visiting philadelphiabar.org and clicking on the Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn icons. Members must register with each respective Web site to gain access to the new services. These sites enable the Association to expand its relationship with members by offering more convenient and immediate access to issues pertinent to the Philadelphia legal community. Members with questions about the Association’s social media sites can contact Communications Manager Michael Petitti at mpetitti@philabar.org.

To Network Effectively, Move Beyond the Basics Says Molly Peckman

Molly Peckman, director of associate development at Dechert in Philadelphia, and a frequent writer and lecturer on law firm life and professional development, really understands what it takes for lawyers to stand out in a crowd and to be successful. In today's Legal Intelligencer / Pa Law Weekly, she writes, "To Network Effectively, Move Beyond the Basics."

I first met Molly when we served on the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Executive Committee - back in the early 90s. Okay, yes, I was considered a young lawyer back then. And as "young lawyers" we were very active in bar and civic community activities. We worked a gazillion hours a day, Molly at a big law firm and I as a judicial law clerk handling death penalty PCRA. We didn't have text messaging, we didn't have Facebook, we didn't have LinkedIn, and we didn't have marketing budgets (I don't think law firm CMOs really existed yet). But we knew that in order to be successful, we had to network - so network we did.

I still remember meeting Lisa Scottoline for the first time. She had just hit the New York Times Best Sellers' List and was a Philadelphia lawyer. So the YLD, under Molly's leadership, honored Lisa at our annual luncheon. Our luncheon was a sell out and we still socialize with many of the YLD members that we broke bread with then. In fact, Scott Cooper who was also on the YLD Executive Committee, is now the Chancellor or the Philadelphia Bar Association.

So I was honored to see that Molly quoted me in her article today. It says:

"Local lawyer-turned-public-relations-guru Gina Furia Rubel is a master networker who knows tons about introductions. In addition to running her own PR and marketing company, she presents, blogs, Tweets, sends newsletters, is active in the leadership of several organizations and is about as "linked in" as a person could be in this town.

Rubel, the author of 'Every Day Public Relations for Lawyers,' suggests different introductions for 'different purposes, audiences and venues. Your introduction to prospective referring attorneys is going to be drastically different from your introduction to prospective clients in a particular practice area.' Rubel explains why saying 'I'm a lawyer' as an introduction is not ideal, and instead suggests you treat an introduction as a closing argument. She counsels, 'Don't just wing it. Practice!'"

Thanks, Molly, for the kind words and for quoting my book. It is a pleasure to continue to network effectively together.

Legal Marketing, Networking, Social Media and other Not to be Missed Leadership Events

Furia Rubel issues a public relations e-newsletter monthly where we share exciting news, client sightings, not-to-be-missed events and more. One of the regular sections is "Where to be seen" where we provide a list of networking and professional development opportunities.

Here is a recap from our newsletter that you can subscribe to by going to our website at http://www.furiarubel.com/ (see top right corner of Web site for subscription field).

Where to be seen...

The Justinian Society of Philadelphia will honor Scott F. Cooper, Esq. (Blank Rome), 2010 Chancellor, Philadelphia Bar Association, on Tuesday, February 10, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at The Union League of Philadelphia. For more information, go to http://www.justinian.org/.

On February 11, 2010, the Philadelphia Bar Association, Bar-News Media Committee, chaired by Gina F. Rubel will host “How and When to Share Your Opinion with the Press – Submitting to Editorial Pages.” Members of the media have been invited to speak from several area newspapers. The program will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 1101 Market Street, 11th Floor Philadelphia. For more information, go to http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FuriaRubelCommunicat/f232d8cc10/3fc4dc40c8/5a2d6ce1b3.

21st Century Women's Leadership Program will host “Presenting Yourself as a Leader” on February 11, 2010 at The Union League featuring Kim Huggins, Neen James, Megan Kristel, Laura Powers, Gina Rubel, Joan Walsh and Kim Woodward. To learn more about this fabulous, all-day program and the speakers, go to http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FuriaRubelCommunicat/f232d8cc10/3fc4dc40c8/a6b976cd72. To register for the program, go to http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FuriaRubelCommunicat/f232d8cc10/3fc4dc40c8/9b180ff2f1/pageid=3.

The 2010 Legal Marketing Association National Conference, “Recover … Refocus … ReunitePathways to Increasing Profitability,” will be held in Denver, Colo., March 10 – 12, 2010. New for 2010 is the “Just JDs: Business Development Strategies for Lawyers” program on Wednesday, March 10. This full-day, pre-conference session offers programming designed exclusively for marketing-oriented lawyers and administrators at firms of all sizes. Gina F. Rubel, President and CEO of Furia Rubel will be speaking that day with John Hellerman of Hellerman Baretz Communications, LLC on “The Ethics of Marketing and Public Relations.” Other presenters include: Ross Fishman, CEO of Fishman Marketing, Inc.; James A. Durham, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer of McGuireWoods LLP; Deborah Knupp, Partner of Akina Corporation; Richard P. Klau, Business Product Manager, Blogger, Google; and Alvidas A. Jasin, Director of Business Development of Thompson Hine LLP. For more information, go to http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FuriaRubelCommunicat/f232d8cc10/3fc4dc40c8/2ad482d9f6.

The Bucks County Women’s Fund will host their Annual Power of the Purse event on Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Spring Mill Manor, Ivyland, Pa. Lynn Doyle, anchor/executive producer at The Comcast Network and host of It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle, will emcee to help raise money for future grants and programs. The Bucks County Women's Fund tackles inequity and empowers women to improve their lives and communities. For more information, please contact Jeanne Scanlon at 215-345-5440 or jscanlon@bcwf.org or go to http://www.bcwf.org/.

An encore presentation of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s “Facebook, Twitter & Blogging…Oh MySpace!” six-credit CLE is being offered on March 24, 2010. The last program was a sell-out in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Gina Rubel will once again set the stage with an introduction to social media and will discuss social media marketing with Kim Jessum, Esq., and Kelly Phillips Erb, Esq. among others. To follow on Twitter, check our #pbism or to register, visit http://cts.vresp.com/c/?FuriaRubelCommunicat/f232d8cc10/3fc4dc40c8/8dfcbb6860.

Philadelphia-Area December Events for Lawyers, Judges, Accountants and Business Owners

Here are a few of the things happening in the Philadelphia region next month that are sure to have great attendance. These are all fabulous events for networking, business development, and relationship development. We hope to see you there.

The Philadelphia Bar Association will host “A Year in Review: Big Cases - What Was Hot, What Was Not. -- It's Your Call with Lynn Doyle” on December 1, 2009. This event is sponsored by the Bar-News Media Committee, which is chaired by The PR Lawyer (a.k.a. @ginarubel on Twitter) Gina Rubel. Emmy-award winning journalist Lynn Doyle, will lead a discussion with Bar Chancellor Sayde Ladov, Tariq El-Shabazz, Rhonda Hill Wilson and Chuck A. Peruto, Jr. from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm at the Bar Association. To register, go to http://www.philadelphiabar.org/.

Also on December 1, 2009, is the Philadelphia Business Journal’s Women of Distinction Awards Banquet to be held from 5:15 pm - 8:15 pm at the Sheraton City Center Hotel 17 & Race Streets, Philadelphia. To register, go to http://philadelphia.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/.

Banker’s Shootout™ − Kimberle Levin and The Philadelphia 100 Alumni Association bring us The Banker’s Shootout™ which will take place on December 4 from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Philadelphia Country Club, 1601 Spring Mill Road, Gladwyne, PA. Five of the Philadelphia region’s bank CEOs will come together and answer questions about bank financing for businesses. Furia Rubel will be at this exclusive event on December 4, 2009 from 7:00 am to 10:00 am. Speakers include: Bill Aichele, Chairman, President & CEO of Univest Corporation, Gerry Cuddy, President & CEO of Beneficial Bank, Ted Peters, Chairman & CEO of Bryn Mawr Trust, Tom Petro, President & CEO of Fox Chase Bank, Walt Tillman, Chairman & CEO of Vantage Point Bank, Pamela Strisofsky, Managing Director & CFO of TL Ventures, Moderator. Register at http://www.bankersshootout.eventbrite.com/.

The Justinian Society of Philadelphia, made up of Italian-American attorneys, judges and law students, will host their annual Christmas party on December 15, 2009 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at The Grand Ballroom at The Ben Franklin, 9th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia. This is a fantastic event drawing several hundred attendees every year. To register, go to http://www.justinian.org/events.php?action=view&id=132.

Philadelphia CLE Event News - Second Women in the Profession Summit

If you are looking for CLE credits and are in the Philadelphia area tomorrow, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) and the Women in the Profession Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association will be hosting the Second Women in the Profession Summit, "Women in the Profession: Then, Now and Where Do We Go from Here?" The event will take place at the PBI CLE Conference Center on the 10th Floor of the Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia.

Registration for the event will begin at 11:30AM and lunch will be served shortly after. Chancellor Ladov and Summit Planner, Kimberly Ruch-Alegant, Esq., will welcome guests and the keynote address will be delivered by JoAnne A. Epps, Esq., Dean of Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law. An impressive list of faculty from the Philadelphia-area will address the following topics: Removing Gender Bias from Attorney Evaluations; Hot Topics for Women; and A Woman's Voice on the Bench. This event will offer participants four total CLE credits (2 SUB and 2 Ethics) and a cocktail reception will follow at 5PM. To learn more, visit www.pbi.org or call 800-932-4637.

Lawyers in Transition 2.5 Credit CLE – 5/13/09 - Philadelphia

As with so many industries, some sectors of the legal profession have been hit hard by the economy. As a result, a team of industry leaders has been assembled by the Philadelphia Bar Association Law Practice Management Division to assist lawyers who are either looking for employment or who are considering new ways to further their legal careers during the economic downturn. The program will also assist those who counsel lawyers on how they can find employment and continue to practice law in the interim. I will be there to address public relations and marketing for lawyers and will answer questions about media relations.

"Lawyers in Transition," is a 2.5-credit CLE program designed to help struggling attorneys get back on their feet on Wednesday, May 13, 2009. It will take place at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Bldg., 10th Floor, Ste. 1010, in Philadelphia.

Some of the topics to be covered include:

Suddenly Solo: Legal and medical insurance, equipment purchases, whom to notify and how, practical aspects of going and staying solo, going solo temporarily and the ethical aspects of communicating with former clients.

Marketing Yourself: Getting new clients, working with existing clients and the ethical considerations of public relations and marketing for lawyers.

Looking for a Job: Using placement services, interviewing techniques, dealing with stress and the ethical concerns.

The faculty includes:
Daniel J. Siegel, Esq., President, Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel, LLC, Havertown
Mary Platt, Esq., Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP, Philadelphia
Ellen Freedman, CLM, Law Practice Management Coordinator, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Harrisburg
Kenneth J. Hagreen, Esq., Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc., Camp Hill
Elizabeth Lloyd, Executive Recruiter - Litigation Consultant, Ajilon Professional Staffing, Philadelphia
Susan G. Manch, Shannon & Manch LLP, Washington, D.C.
Gina F. Rubel, Esq., Furia Rubel Communications, Inc.
Barbara S. Rosenberg, Esq.
Gina Sage, Senior Account Executive, USI Affinity, Philadelphia

It should also be noted that in furtherance of PBI's goal of assisting attorneys who find themselves in transition and are looking for work during these difficult times, PBI is pleased to offer this program at a substantially reduced fee. In addition to the reduced fee, those who cannot afford to pay for the seminar may attend at no cost. PBI will not require verification for this opportunity; you simply need to check the box appropriate to you.

Judge the Judges: The Philadelphia Bar Association Wants your Feedback

Posted by Katie Noonan

The Philadelphia Bar Association's Commission on Judicial Selection and Retention is conducting a poll regarding Common Pleas and Municipal Court judges who will be standing for retention election in November 2009.

The poll closes at 5 p.m. this Friday, May 8. Attorneys interested in submitting their ballot should click here.

Lawyer Ethics & Facebook

A lawyer cannot hire a third person to send a “friend request” to a witness http://htxt.it/Fbx0 in an attempt to gather information.

Check out Doug Cornelius' article at [http://htxt.it/Fbx0] addressing the Philadelphia Bar Association Professional Guidance Committee Opinion.

Legal Award Announced for Philadelphia-area Law Students

Posted by Gina Rubel

Here is a great opportunity for Philadelphia-area legal students:

The Philadelphia Bar Association encourages students to enter the 2009 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “Pursuit of Justice” Legal Writing Competition. 

Any topic relating to rights, privileges and responsibilities under federal law is acceptable. Submissions should be of law review quality.

The award is open to full and part-time law students in their 2nd or 3rd year during the 2008-09 academic year at one of the following institutions: Drexel University College of Law, University of Pennsylvania School of Law, Rutgers School of Law (Camden), Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, Villanova University School of Law, Widener University School of Law (Delaware Campus).

The winning law student will receive a $2500 cash prize, publication in The Philadelphia Lawyer and on the Bar Association’s Web site, presentation of the award at the October Quarterly Meeting & Luncheon of the Bar Association.

The deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2009. Visit www.philadelphiabar.org for more information.  

Another Great Philadelphia CLE Program for Lawyers in Transition - May 13

Here is yet another great Philadelphia-area CLE program that Gina Rubel will be participating in on May 13 targeting Lawyers in Transition. The program will take place at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th floor of the Wanamaker Building in Philadelphia - see more info on the event below.

The current economic slowdown has hit the legal profession hard. Attorneys have been laid off and firms have closed their doors. In an effort to assist attorneys who have been affected by the recession, the Law Practice Management Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) will present "Lawyers in Transition," a 2.5-credit CLE program designed to help struggling attorneys get back on their feet on Wednesday, May 13.

Job seekers will get advice about what steps to take to find a new position. Attorneys interested in forming their own practice will learn how to do so, how to market themselves and ethical considerations. This program will also provide an opportunity to network with other attorneys with whom you may want to practice or who are facing similar situations.

In furtherance of PBI's goal of assisting attorneys who find themselves in transition and are looking for work during these difficult times, PBI is offering this program at a substantially reduced fee. In addition to the reduced fee, those who cannot afford to pay for the seminar may attend at no cost. PBI will not require verification for this opportunity; you simply need to check the box appropriate to you when registering.

Panelists for this program include Daniel J. Siegel, president, Law Offices of Daniel J. Siegel, LLC and Mary F. Platt, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, LLP (course planners); Ellen Freedman, Law Practice Management Coordinator, Pennsylvania Bar Association; Kenneth J. Hagreen, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania, Inc.; James LaRosa, JuriStaff, Inc.; and Gina F. Rubel, president, Furia Rubel Communications, Inc.

The program begins with "Suddenly Solo," a session discussing issues relating to how to set up your own law practice or to handle client matters while seeking new opportunities. Following a short break, "Looking for a Job" will examine using placement services, interviewing techniques, resumes, networking and dealing with stress. The program closes with "Marketing Yourself," with a discussion on getting clients, working with existing clients, ethical aspects of communicating with former clients. The program begins at 1 p.m. at The CLE Conference Center on the 10th floor of the Wanamaker Building, 13th and Market Streets. Because of the CLE rules, a portion of each of these sessions are not creditable. Credit will be provided for 30 minutes of ethics during each session. Click here to register for this event.

Arianna Huffington at Philadelphia Bar Quarterly

I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, today at the Philadelphia Bar Association Quarterly meeting. Arianna served as the keynote speaker. I found her to be witty, energetic, and thought-provoking. In reference to the economic crisis – she referred to an analogy that made more sense than anything I’ve heard to date. Referring to Wall Street leadership, she said, “If a school bus driver was driving a bus blindfolded and totaled the bus – you wouldn’t give him another one.” Certainly makes you think.

Sayde Ladov, Chancellor of the Bar Association opened the program and recognized the Immediate Past Chancellor, Michael A. Pratt, for his leadership of the Association in 2008 and his diversity initiatives. Sayde also announced that the Law Practice Management Division, an initiative of former Chancellor, Alan Feldman, has received a national award for its work.

Mayor Michael Nutter also spoke about the City’s deficit. But that’s not what the Philadelphia media wanted to talk with him about. Reporters from Fox29, NBC10 and the Inquirer were all on hand to get a statement about the city’s demand for the $8 million raked in by the Eagles Skybox at Veterans Stadium from the 2000 and 2001 seasons. What’s being reported by NBC10 is that our beloved “Eagles won’t pay up, claiming the city is at fault for their losing $8 million when the 2001 pre-season game was canceled due to turf problems.” Another public relations headache for the City and our Eagles.

Fortunately, Arianna was not put in the middle of Mayor Nutter and Jeffrey Lurie – but if she had been asked to comment, I’m sure her charm would have shown through.

A nationally syndicated columnist and author of twelve books, Arianna Huffington is also co-host of “Left, Right & Center,” public radio’s popular political roundtable program. In May 2005, she launched The Huffington Post, a news and blog site that has quickly become one of the most widely-read, linked to, and frequently-cited media brands on the Internet. In fact, in 2006, she was named to the Time 100, Time Magazine's list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Originally from Greece, she moved to England when she was 16 and graduated from Cambridge University with an M.A. in economics. At 21, she became president of the famed debating society, the Cambridge Union.