Foundation Programs Building System-wide Capacity
EQUAL JUSTICE CENTER. We are working closely with our nonprofit partners and others to build an Equal Justice Center facility that will co-locate dozens of legal aid organizations and strengthen client services. This unique Center will set a new national standard for inter-agency collaboration and operational efficiency.
BOARD OBSERVER PROGRAM. The Program gives young lawyers the opportunity to serve on the boards of local legal services and other public interest organizations, learning about this work and developing leadership skills. Five years after we first developed this Program, it serves as a model for replication in other states.
TRIAL SKILLS TRAINING. Through the R. Nicholas Gimbel Fund for Legal Excellence, the Bar Foundation utilizes proven examples of effective training programs and makes them available for local legal aid attorneys. We offer NITA-style trial skills training to our nonprofit partners at no cost, through an acclaimed three-day intensive program in conjunction with Rutgers Law School.
HONORABLE ALBERT W. SHEPPARD SCHOLARSHIP FUND. The memory of Judge Albert W. Sheppard, Jr. has been honored through the Scholarship Fund and its annual support for a law student clerkship position with the Commerce Case Management Program. The Fund was established by the Philadelphia Bar Foundation and the Business Law Section’s Business Litigation Committee (Philadelphia Bar Association).
JUDGE LUONGO FUND. The Fund supports the “Supervision to Aid Reentry” or STAR Program of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, helping ex-offenders succeed in transitioning back to the community. The Fund was established by Federal Judge Gerald Austin (Jerry) McHugh, Jr. and named in honor of one of his mentors, the late Alfred L. Luongo.
JUDGE WILLIAM M. MARUTANI FELLOWSHIP. In memory of Judge Marutani and in conjunction with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, the Fellowship provides a stipend to subsidize a summer internship position with a nonprofit public interest organization or with a federal, state or municipal government entity (including the judiciary) in Pennsylvania or in the Greater Philadelphia area.
MORRIS M. SHUSTER FELLOWSHIP. The Fellowship provides awards each year to deserving public interest attorneys to help them retire their law school debt.
PHILADELPHIA BAR FOUNDATION AWARD. This Award, originally established by the Apothaker family in honor of Louis D. Apothaker, recognizes a public interest attorney who is dedicating his or her life to promoting equal access to justice for all by working in the nonprofit legal services community.
PRO BONO AWARD OF THE PHILADELPHIA BAR FOUNDATION. The Award is presented annually to a Philadelphia law firm or corporate legal department that demonstrates outstanding volunteer efforts in providing legal services to those in need.
SAMUEL T. GOMEZ AWARD. In memory of Samuel T. Gomez, Esq. and in conjunction with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of the Pennsylvania, this Award has been established for law students who demonstrate a commitment and compassion for the underserved through community service.
HONORABLE LOUIS H. POLLAK CHAMPION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST AWARD. This Award is presented on special occasions to honor a lawyer, in private practice, who throughout his or her career has provided extraordinary service, including through support of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, to the mission of accomplishing access to justice for all.
TRAILBLAZERS FOR JUSTICE. Trailblazers for Justice led the way in Philadelphia for creating equal access to justice for all. The lives of these individuals serve as historical role models and demonstrate the rich diversity of contributions that have made our community what it is today.
NATIONAL LEADERSHIP ROLES. The innovation and thought leadership of the Bar Foundation was recognized as our executive director, Jessica R. Hilburn-Holmes, Esq., was selected to serve on the board of directors for the National Conference of Bar Foundations.