Committee Functions

Committees

• Admissions and Membership - responsible for the admissions ceremony late in the year which will be followed by a reception hosted by the Committee and the Board of Directors.  The Committee will also follow up with new admittees to assure their membership to the Association.

 

• Bar Barrister - responsible for four (4) issues of the Barrister throughout the year.

 

• Bench-Bar Conference - a year-round working committee that plans for the local Bench-Bar Conference held in April as well as planning for the Bar Retreat in the fall.

 

• Citizenship - plans two naturalization ceremonies, one in the spring and one in the fall.  In doing so, the committee works with several civic organizations to plan the programs.

 

• Civil Liberties - the committee meets whenever a problem involving abridgement of civil liberties is presented.

 

• Client Dispute Resolution - handles all complaints submitted to the Bar Association by discussion with the attorneys and clients and arbitrates (binding arbitration) when necessary.

 

• Common Pleas Court Rules - the committee serves as a forum of discussion for the promulgation of possible rules involving civil practice and judicial administration.

 

• Community Outreach - the committee will develop opportunities for members to volunteer their time to help the community either in new projects or to take a role in current public interest projects.

 

• Criminal Law - meets in a timely manner to discuss issues and engage in dialogue with the Criminal Division Bench.

 

• Diversity - the committee will work to encourage diversity through two meaningful and practical objectives: (1) to ensure that legal services are available to all racial and ethnic groups in Berks County; and (2) to increase the number of minority lawyers who practice law in our community.

 

• Entertainment - plans the social activities during the year which include the summer picnic, trip to Hershey Park, holiday reception and other events.

 

• Governmental Affairs - this committee will monitor proposed legislation that concerns the practice of law and will maintain contact with the members of the General Assembly from Berks County.  In addition, it will provide a mechanism by which to address concerns that may arise with row offices, county commissioners or municipalities.

 

• Law Day - plan the Law Day Luncheon to be held in May and will coordinate the other activities involved with honoring Law Day.

 

• Law Explorer Post - affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, it meets every other Monday at the Bar Association and requires interested attorneys to help both as advisors and part-time helpers.

 

• Law Journal - oversees the publishing of the Law Journal to address any problems and develop new policies.

 

• Law Library - the committee meets whenever necessary and provides contact with the Law Librarian at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas Law Library.

 

• Lawyer Referral/Legal Aid - meets whenever necessary to plan lawyer referral and pro bono activities or address problems and consider new ways to enhance both programs.

 

• Continuing Legal Education - plans locally produced seminars throughout the year to allow members to meet their credit obligations.

 

• Mock Trial - prepares students and attorneys for competition in mock trials locally and statewide.

 

• Orphans' Court Rules - meets whenever necessary to discuss any problems and provides a forum to discuss the promulgation of new rules with the Bench of the Orphans' Court Division.

 

• Public Relations - this committee will execute a planned public relations campaign throughout the year to enhance the image of the local Bar and promote the work of association members.

 

• Senior Citizen Booklet - updates and reprints the Older & Wiser Booklet when necessary.

 

• Technology - a committee that will maintain the Bar's website, update the association technology and will serve as a resource for members with technology concerns.

 

• Unauthorized Practice of Law - meets to consider any complaints relating to the unauthorized practice of law and will forward them to the appropriate authority or the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.