Philadelphia Bar Association

Philadelphia Bar Association With 12,000 members and active since 1802, the Philadelphia Bar Association is the oldest associatio

The Philadelphia Bar Association, founded in 1802, is America's first chartered metropolitan bar association. Its founders and early leaders included several of the nation's founders. It was originally formed by a small group of Philadelphia lawyers who gathered together to share law books and professional resources. Founded as the Law Library Company of Philadelphia it was later incorporated as t

he Law Association and then the Bar Association. Over the years its members have included some of the nation's most prominent lawyers, judges, public servants, business, civic and community leaders. It's hard to talk about Philadelphia without talking about Philadelphia lawyers. And the Bar Association has forever been associated with the term "Philadelphia Lawyer." The term actually predates the nation's founding, having its origins in 1735 when Philadelphia lawyer Andrew Hamilton traveled to New York City to defend a poor printer, John Peter Zenger. Hamilton actually acted pro bono and accepted a case that no New York lawyer would take on. Defending Zenger against charges of sedition brought by the crown, Hamilton won the case and, in so doing, established the concept of freedom of the press more than 50 years before the First Amendment. It was said that when the jury returned its verdict those in the galleries exclaimed: "Only a Philadelphia lawyer could have done it!" Ever since then the term "Philadelphia lawyer" has come to characterize a particularly adept lawyer: more clever; craftier; a lawyer who will find a way to prevail for his/her client. Today the Philadelphia Bar Association counts 13,000 members including the Mayor of Philadelphia and the Governor of Pennsylvania. With a strong sense of social responsibility and community purpose the Bar Association funds numerous law-related public interest programs through its charitable arm, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. Likewise, Philadelphia lawyers contribute millions of dollars worth of in-kind services annually to various groups and agencies pro bono publico (for the good of the public). The Association also maintains communications and "sister city" relationships with other bar associations throughout the United States and around the world. The Philadelphia Bar Association is proud to represent lawyers who are heirs to America's founders in the city where America was born. It's commitment to liberty and justice to all lies at the heart of the Association's mission: to serve the profession and the public by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law. In so doing, the Association strives to foster understanding of, involvement in and access to the justice system.

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Ezra Wohlgelernter released a statement in reaction to the aliens.gov website re...
06/02/2026

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Ezra Wohlgelernter released a statement in reaction to the aliens.gov website recently launched by the White House. At first glance, the website appears to be about extraterrestrials, but tracks arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, using inflammatory language to describe immigrants.

Read the full statement: https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=News&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=146243

🔹A message from our annual partner bit x bit, LLC🔹Social media continues to play a growing role in litigation, often pro...
06/02/2026

🔹A message from our annual partner bit x bit, LLC🔹

Social media continues to play a growing role in litigation, often providing evidence that can directly impact the outcome of a case. In a recent bicyclist injury lawsuit, against a taxi company, Mehdi Bouasba v. St. Louis County Cab Company, Inc., the plaintiff sought nearly $1 million for pain and suffering following a collision with a cab. During trial, however, the defense introduced Instagram photos showing the plaintiff participating in activities such as biking, hiking, kayaking, and jet skiing after the accident despite testimony claiming long-term physical limitations. The jury ultimately assigned 100% fault to the plaintiff and awarded zero damages: https://ow.ly/Ex8O50Z6bJx

The case highlights how publicly available digital content can significantly influence credibility in litigation. Social media posts, photos, location data, and online activity are increasingly being used to challenge claims, verify timelines, and uncover inconsistencies that may not appear in traditional discovery alone. As digital evidence becomes more central in legal proceedings, preserving and analyzing online activity properly is critical for both plaintiffs and defendants.

At bit-x-bit, we help legal teams identify, preserve, and analyze digital evidence using defensible forensic methodologies. From authentication and data preservation to detailed forensic analysis, we help ensure digital evidence is collected accurately, withstands scrutiny, and supports informed legal strategy when it matters most. Learn more: https://ow.ly/J7Ig50Z6bJy

The defense used the plaintiff’s Instagram posts to win a full defense verdict in a St. Louis bicyclist injury lawsuit against a cab company.

🏆Nominations are open for 2026 Philadelphia Bar Association Awards🏆We encourage everyone to take a moment to nominate so...
06/01/2026

🏆Nominations are open for 2026 Philadelphia Bar Association Awards🏆

We encourage everyone to take a moment to nominate someone who has made a positive impact. Your nomination can shine a light on contributions that might otherwise go unnoticed and help build a culture of appreciation for fellow members. All nominations are due Monday, August 3, 2026. Submit nominations today:

2026 Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Award: https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=News&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=145831

2026 Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award: https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=News&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=145261

2026 Cheryl Ingram Award: https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=News&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=145212

Law Students: Enter the 2026 Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "Pursuit of Justice" Legal Writing Competition: https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=News&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=145268

NOMINATIONS DUE THIS FRIDAY: Large Firm Management Committee Public Service Awards: https://philadelphiabar.org/?pg=News&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=144621

Join the Family Law Section at their Summer Social at Uptown Beer Garden on June 4! It's a great chance to unwind, conne...
06/01/2026

Join the Family Law Section at their Summer Social at Uptown Beer Garden on June 4! It's a great chance to unwind, connect, and enjoy the company of your colleagues.

Thank you to event sponsor, All State Investigations!

Register today: https://ow.ly/Jcxo50YYkIT

Happy  ! 🌈Today and every day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s k...
06/01/2026

Happy ! 🌈

Today and every day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. Let’s keep showing up, standing together, and creating spaces where everyone belongs.

Summer rush? No problem. With the UPS® Savings Program, members get discounted rates and reliable shipping solutions tha...
06/01/2026

Summer rush? No problem. With the UPS® Savings Program, members get discounted rates and reliable shipping solutions that keep business running smoothly all season. Ship smarter today: www.savewithups.com/philadelphiabar

We're continuing the celebration of  , by spotlighting Philadelphia Bar Association member Twinckle Vaidya Patel, foundi...
05/29/2026

We're continuing the celebration of , by spotlighting Philadelphia Bar Association member Twinckle Vaidya Patel, founding partner at Greenspan Patel💡

Twinckle Vaidya Patel is a founding partner of Greenspan Patel LLC, a Philadelphia-based boutique firm specializing in independent investigations for higher education institutions, corporations, and government entities. The firm handles matters involving discrimination, harassment, Title IX, workplace and professional misconduct, retaliation, fraud, Title VI compliance and other confidential concerns.

Prior to co-founding Greenspan Patel LLC with longtime friend and accomplished litigator, Leslie Miller Greenspan, Ms. Patel spent decades in public service honing her expertise. Most recently, as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where she led highly sensitive and complex investigations across multiple agencies and provided strategic guidance to safeguard civil rights and civil liberties in DHS operations nationwide.

Ms. Patel brings a depth of knowledge to investigations, drawing on her extensive experience with DHS component agencies and the City of Philadelphia Law Department. Clients recognize her for her integrity and candor as well as her collaborative, solution-oriented approach to addressing complex legal challenges.

Ms. Patel is an active member of the North American South Asian Bar Association (NASABA), SABA- Philadelphia, and previously served as the Vice President of Attorney Outreach when the organization was still in its nascent stages, and the Philadelphia Bar Association. Ms. Patel is also a member of the SABA Leadership Institute (SLI), a Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) Fellow and recipient of the ABA Business Law Section Scholarship during law school.

Ms. Patel graduated from The George Washington University and Temple Law School and is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. Ms. Patel gives back to the community by serving as a Troop Leader with the Girls Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, manager for a Rose Tree Media Soccer team, and Judge of Elections in Delaware County. She has also volunteered with the National Immigration Project and the Support Center for Child Advocates.

🗳VOTING ENDS TODAY🗳Vote for Philly Bar CLEs in the Legal Intelligencer's annual 'Best of' survey before the day is over!...
05/29/2026

🗳VOTING ENDS TODAY🗳

Vote for Philly Bar CLEs in the Legal Intelligencer's annual 'Best of' survey before the day is over! Look for Philly Bar CLEs at category #38 and #39. Enter our drawing for one free 1.0 credit course!

Vote now: https://ow.ly/WcqN50YV5tf

  to The Philadelphia Lawyer, Winter 2016 - Book review: Emotionally Drained: A Pragmatic Guide to Caring for and Avoidi...
05/28/2026

to The Philadelphia Lawyer, Winter 2016 - Book review: Emotionally Drained: A Pragmatic Guide to Caring for and Avoiding Burnout Caused by Empathy-Based Work

All members can access our full publications archives through HeinOnline: https://ow.ly/pokK50Z4MT5

Address

1101 Market Street, 11th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
19107

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(215) 238-6300

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Philadelphia Bar Association posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Category