Events

April 2026 Justice Matters Forum

Prisoner Reentry: Returning Home After Prison – A Lawyer’s Impact

As part of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s Justice Matters Forum series—an initiative that explores timely civil justice issues and the systems shaping legal outcomes and community well-being—this program focuses on the challenges of prisoner reentry.

Individuals returning from incarceration face significant legal, social, and economic barriers, from securing housing and employment to navigating supervision and rebuilding stability. These challenges can have lasting impacts on successful reintegration and recidivism.

This discussion brings together members of the judiciary, legal community, and directly impacted individuals to examine the lawyer’s role in addressing these barriers. Attendees will explore ethical considerations, access to justice, and the responsibility of legal professionals to support equitable outcomes for returning citizens.

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Event Details:

Date: April 28
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Baker Hostetler: 1735 Market St, Suite 3300, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Title: Prisoner Reentry: Returning Home after Prison – A Lawyer’s Impact
CLE: Pending

Participants:

Judge Phil Restrepo – United States Court of Appeals (3rd Circuit)
Judge Scott Reid – Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Jacqueline Romero, Partner BakerHostetler
Maya Sosnov – Law Clerk to Federal District Court Judge
Graduate, STAR (Supervision to Aid Reentry) Progra

February 2026 Justice Matters Forum:

As new charitable giving laws take effect in 2026, legal and philanthropic professionals face a shifting landscape that impacts donors, nonprofits, and the communities they serve. This 1 CLE credit program will explored how these changes, such as the universal charitable deduction for nonitemizers, new AGI floors, and caps on high-income deductions, affect strategies for sustaining nonprofit funding and advancing equity.

Equity and Access: How reforms influence everyday donors and legal aid sustainability.
Strategic Giving: Tools and tactics for maximizing impact under new rules.
Compliance and Ethics: Best practices for advisors guiding charitable contributions.
Advocacy: Opportunities for the legal community to champion fairness in philanthropy.

Speakers:

Kayci D. Petenko, Esq., Archer & Greiner

Noel A. Fleming, Esq., Archer & Greiner

Karen Wawrzaszek, Northern Trust

Timothy E. Horn, Esq., Archer & Greiner