Chester County Bar Association earns award

The Pennsylvania Bar Association presented a County Bar Recognition Award virtually to the Chester County Bar Association during the 55th Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders on Feb. 25.

Recognized for its Chester County evictions court prevention program, the Chester County Bar Association is one of 20 local bar associations in Pennsylvania honored this year for sponsoring projects that improve the legal profession, justice system or community. The awards are presented annually by the PBA.

“We are so proud of the innovative projects and programs that members of each local bar association initiate to better serve its community,” said PBA President David E. Schwager. “We are even more proud to recognize these good works each year and applaud the efforts of the many volunteers that contributed to their success.”

The Chester County Bar Foundation supported the Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children this past year as the Friends Association launched a first-of-its- Evictions Court Prevention Program

in Chester County. A grant was given to support this new venture, which is designed to help pro se litigants at the magisterial district court level. In addition, a number of Chester County Bar Association members did pro bono work for the program. The association is hoping to help the courts and the people of Chester County as an unprecedented wave of folks facing evictions is navigated once the moratoriums are lifted later in 2021.

The Conference of County Bar Leaders, whose membership includes leaders from county bar associations throughout the state and from the PBA, organizes a yearly educational conference focusing on the exchange of innovative bar association projects and ideas, and on the development of mutually-beneficial relationships among bar leaders that improve the legal profession.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access of legal services; and serve the lawyer members of the state’s largest organized bar association.