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HomeMONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS OF COMMITTEES AND SECTIONS
ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
This committee facilitates MBA member use of alternate dispute resolution techniques including mediation, private arbitration, mini-trials and other methods of resolving disputes outside the public court system.
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP AND LAW DAY
A merger of the former "American Citizenship" and "Law Day" Committees, this committee spearheads MBA's efforts to educate the public on the importance of American law and lawyers in society. The committee continues to plan and implement two MBA traditions -- naturalization ceremonies for new American citizens in Montgomery County and the Law Day celebration, which takes place every spring.
APPELLATE COURT PRACTICE
This committee assists practitioners in appellate practice.
AUDIT COMMITTEE
This committee oversees the MBA’s yearly expenditures and assists the MBA's accountants in conducting annual audits.
BANKRUPTCY/CREDITORS AND DEBTORS RIGHTS
This committee, which was formerly known as the Collection/Foreclosure/Bankruptcy Committee, educates practitioners and acts as a forum for discussions on such topics as bankruptcy, foreclosure, confession of judgments, execution upon judgments, tax sales and other creditor/debtor issues.
BENCH-BAR
This long-standing committee maintains and fosters the great relationship between the MBA and the judges of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, and it serves as the primary vehicle for the exchange of information between the Bench and Bar. In addition, it allows the MBA and its committees to forward ideas and suggestions to the Bench and enables the Bench to request feedback from the MBA concerning proposed rules and administrative changes within the court.
BUSINESS, BANKING AND CORPORATE COUNSEL
This committee educates MBA members about corporate, banking and business law issues and facilitates interaction between members serving as inside counsel and those serving as outside counsel.
BY-LAWS
This committee reviews and recommends changes to the By-laws.
CHILD ADVOCATES COMMITTEE
In 2006, we combined the Child Advocacy Committee and the Youth in the Law Committee. With the formation of the Montgomery Child Advocacy Project in 2006, the Children’s Rights committee will focus on legal issues affecting young adults such as guardianships, school violence, peer mediation programs, etc.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE
Originally begun to provide MBA members the opportunity to educate community leaders working in fields outside the law about the Bar Association and its members’ work, this committee, which is made up of MBA members and non-attorneys, allows the two groups to work together to determine the needs of the community and then meet those needs.
CONSTRUCTION AND PUBLIC CONTRACT LAW
This committee, a merger of the former Construction Law and Public Contract Committees, educates its members about issues pertaining to the construction industry and government and public contracting.
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION
This committee provides continuing legal education programs on substantive, practice-related subjects as well as professionalism and ethics for MBA members.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
This committee educates and provides a forum for MBA members who handle criminal defense cases.
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE
The Diversity Committee was created as a Task Force in 2007 and is open to all interested members. The Committee meets regularly to discuss methods to promote diversity in the MBA and to address outreach initiatives to the entire Montgomery County legal community.
ELDER AND DISABILITY LAW
This committee, a combination of the former Elder Law and Mental Health Committees, addresses all issues pertaining to the elderly, physically disabled and mentally disabled, including topics such as nursing homes, assisted living, mental health hearings, ADA issues, special needs trusts, social security and durable powers of attorney.
EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR LAW
This committee educates and provides a forum for MBA members who represent employers and employees in private employment and organized labor settings.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
This committee educates and provides a forum for MBA members interested in environmental law issues.
FEDERAL COURT PRACTICE
This committee focuses on practice in the federal courts, particularly the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
FEE DISPUTE COMMITTEE
This committee conducts hearings on complaints initiated by clients of Montgomery County attorneys to determine whether those attorneys charged reasonable fees. Five subcommittees, each comprised of groups of three attorneys, conduct the hearings and enter judgments concerning the fees charged. The MBA president appoints members to this committee, and the committee does not hold meetings. MBA members should direct requests to serve on the committee to the committee chair or the Bar Association president.
FRANCHISING COMMITTEE
This committee provides a forum for and educates MBA members on issues pertaining to franchising and the increasingly important role franchising is playing in the business world.
GENERAL PRACTICE
This committee focuses on the legal and practical issues faced by solo and small firm lawyers engaged in general practice.
Sub-Committee
Civil Practice Manual – publishes paper and electronic forms for use by members in civil practice in Montgomery County in such diverse areas as domestic relations, civil trial practice, discovery, arbitration, motions, judgments and executions, mechanics’ liens, district justice and orphan’s court.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
This committee, which replaces the former Legislative Committee, addresses governmental relations between the MBA and Montgomery County officials, local municipal officials, state and federal officials in the legislative and executive branches.
HISTORICAL COMMITTEE
This committee engages the interest of MBA members in MBA history, preserves the history of the MBA and make the history easily accessible to MBA members.
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
This committee reviews the coverage provided by health and property insurance providers and compares current coverage with coverage offered by other providers to ensure MBA members receive quality insurance at favorable rates.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND COMMUNICATIONS LAW
This committee addresses all issues pertaining to intellectual property including patents, trademarks, computer law, electronic commerce, electronic communications and the ever changing telecommunications industry.
JOINT LIAISON WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Mergers of the largest accounting firms in the world, the encroachment of the accounting profession upon traditional “legal” practice and other changes in the accounting/business consulting profession created the need for discussion between accountants and lawyers. This committee provides a forum for such discussion. It’s structure should mimic the structure of the Joint Liaison with Real Estate Professionals Committee, which has existed for several years.
LAWYER ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE
This committee addresses serious health issues that concern lawyers, judges and their families and provides a confidential referral source for lawyers and judges facing illnesses such as addiction, drug/alcohol abuse problems, depression, compulsive gambling, eating disorders, stress and other serious health issues.
LAWYER REFERENCE/LEGAL ACCESS
This committee supervises and promotes the lawyer reference and legal access programs and ensures they operate as a consumer friendly system that helps all segments of the public obtain legal services that meet their needs.
LEGAL AID/PRO BONO SERVICE
This committee serves as a conduit between Montgomery County Legal Aid and the MBA. It will also implement a program, which will enable MBA members to volunteer legal services to non-profit corporations and organizations.
MEDICAL-LEGAL
This committee, the oldest continuously functioning joint liaison committee between lawyers and medical professionals in the country, promotes open dialogue between the legal and medical professions.
MEMBERSHIP
Members of this important committee interview candidates for membership in the various categories of the MBA. This committee also formulates and implements plans for membership recruitment.
MUNICIPAL LAW
To aid the education support and camaraderie of attorneys involved in the practice of municipal law.
NON-DUES REVENUE
This Committee’s function is to explore avenues of raising funds for the Bar Association from non-dues related activities and business opportunities.
PROFESSIONALISM
This Committee shall study, recommend and implement programs and initiatives designed to promote professionalism among members of the legal community.
REAL ESTATE
The former title “Real Estate Land Use Planning” was simply shortened to Real Estate. The functions of the committee remain the same, that being to educate and provide a forum for MBA members engaged in the practice of real estate, including purchase and sale, real estate development, zoning and related real estate practice areas.
REALTOR LIASION COMMITTEE
This committee, which was renamed to distinguish it from the Joint Liaison with Accountants Committee, will continue to serve as a conduit with real estate professionals in Montgomery County and as a forum for the education of MBA memebers on issues pertaining to real estate. Ten MBA members serve two year terms on this committee and five serve one year terms.
RULES OF COURT
The various Rules of Court Committees now fall under one Rules of Court Committee, which is made up of sub-committees that serve the same functions as the once separate committees. The co-chairs of the Rules Committee oversee and coordinate the various sub-committees and serve as liaisons between the Board of Directors and the sub-committees. Each sub-committee has co-chairs to facilitate the work of their sub-committee and answer to the Rules of Court Committee Co-Chairs. Interested members are asked to sign up for one or more subcommittees of the Rules of Court Committee.
SENIOR LAWYERS
This committee, which was formed in 1999, provides services and acts as a forum for senior members of the MBA. This committee provides social interaction and practical advice for senior lawyers on topics such as slowing down while keeping up with the law, “of counsel” relationships, planning for retirement, the sale and/or transition of practices, planning for short term and long term disability and related issues. This committee also serves as a contact point for the family members of deceased or disabled attorneys who have no plans for the orderly transition of their practices.
SIDEBAR
Publishes a quarterly newsletter which highlights achievements of individual bar members, alert members to bar services and special events, repots on committee activities, educates and entertains the members.
SPEAKERS BUREAU
This committee provides speakers on a variety of legal topics to organizations and groups interested in having an MBA member address them. It educates the public on legal issues and exposes individual Bar members to members of the public who are interested in learning about the law.
UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE
This extremely important committee addresses the unauthorized practice of law by various non-lawyers, including individuals and professions. It monitors legislation proposed by certain interest groups, which would permit those groups to practice and/or engage in business in an area, which historically has been the province of the legal profession.
WOMEN IN THE LAW COMMITTEE
This committee addresses the professional and personal issues affecting women who practice law.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
This committee educates and serves as a forum for those interested in workers' compensation law.
SECTIONS
FAMILY LAW
This extremely active section has various subcommittees that address virtually every area of family law. The full committee holds monthly luncheon meetings, which address timely topics and serve as forums for communication between MBA members and the family court judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County. This section charges $40 per year in dues, which should be paid when annual MBA dues are paid
PROBATE AND TAX
This section charges $20 per year in dues, which should be paid when annual MBA dues are paid. This section serves as a forum for those lawyers engaged in the practice of probate, estate planning, orphan's court and tax.
TRIAL LAWYERS SECTION
Formerly the Trial Committee, this section serves the same functions and meets on the first Wednesday of each month at the Blue Bell Inn, except for June, July and August. Dues are $40 each year.
YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION
There are no dues charged for this section. Every MBA member who is under the age of 35 or who has been in practice for less than five years is automatically a member of this section. The Young Lawyers Section is vibrant and active.
Last updated January 30, 2007
