Montgomery Bar Association

Community Services

We recognize that Law is a service related profession. Perhaps, no where is this more evident than in the cause-related programs and initiatives that the MBA and its memberships sponsor and provide to serve our community. Following are just some of the many ways that our members give back to our community:

MBA Speakers Bureau

Members of our Speakers Bureau serve our community by tailoring and delivering FREE presentations on virtually any legal topic for any size group. Each of our speakers has expertise in their chosen areas of law and in communicating their knowledge and experience in meaningful ways. Among other topics, our speakers have addressed such vital topics as adoption, bankruptcy, child and spousal support, elder law (wills, living wills, powers of attorney, grandparent's rights), dos and don'ts for setting up a small business, consumer rights and protection, creditors rights and employment issues.

For a Speakers Bureau Request Form, call 610-279-9660, ext. 232 or simply download a copy here by clicking on the link provided:

Speakers Bureau request form»

Please forward completed forms to Public Relations. You should expect to hear from a member of our staff the next business day.

For the County’s Youth…

Mock Trial Competition:
Members of our Young Lawyers Section help prepare area high school students for this exciting, educational opportunity that requires participants to present their cases before Montgomery County judges and attorneys who serve as jurors.
The Middle School Jury Project:
This project was developed to educate area youth on the evolution and importance of juries in our legal process. The Middle School Jury Project also provides an early primer to the High School Mock Trial Competitions, sponsored annually by the MBA’s Young Lawyer Section. For the Middle School Jury Project, lawyers affiliated with the Montgomery Bar Association are paired with area teachers to prepare and deliver a lesson on the jury process and the importance of jury service. That same lawyer acts as guide and mentor to the class when they make their trip to the Montgomery County Courthouse to view a live mock trial case – often presented by their respective area high school. Following their observation of the mock trial, students are engaged in the jury process by deliberating back in the classroom and reaching their own verdict. This process is guided by the teacher and a Curriculum Guide prepared annually by the Middle School Jury Project Committee.

The Middle School Jury Project Curriculum Guide, updated annually by the Middle School Jury Project Committee, is a free teaching aid published by the MBA to coincide with deliberations in the statewide High School Mock Trial Competitions.

Click to download the 2008 Curriculum Guide
(PDF 480KB)

The Doctor-Lawyer Program:
This Young Lawyer Section effort pairs attorneys and doctors for classroom presentations on the physical and legal consequences of drug and alcohol use.
Courthouse Tours:
An opportunity for students to witness, firsthand, the workings of the legal system.

Law Day Essay Contest:
Each year, the Young Lawyers encourage high school students to express their thoughts about a legal topic in writing.
Stepping Out Booklet: A Guide For Young Adults
This publication contains useful information on the legal implications and ramifications of buying a car, borrowing money, renting an apartment and more. This timely, "must read" publication for young adults is aimed at helping them make informed economic decisions and; understand their rights and limitations under the law.
Download it now:
Stepping Out Guide»
(PDF 127KB)

Holiday Party for Foster Children

Our Young Lawyers coordinate this annual celebration with Youth Services. The Bar Association provides snacks, entertainment, gifts, and of course, Santa.

People's Law School: Courses on Law-Related Topics for the Public

This Young Lawyer Section Project held at the Montgomery County Community College includes courses for non-lawyers on wills and estates, consumer protection, bankruptcy, divorce and custody, auto law, real estate, finding a lawyer and negotiating fees and starting a small business.

Other related People's Law School Seminars:

Law School for Non-Profit Organization Leaders

Naturalization Ceremonies

The Bar Association’s American Citizenship and Law Day Committee teams up with INS and area schools to welcome county residents who are new U.S. citizens. County judges and other members of the community attend these ceremonies to naturalize the new citizens, remind them of the privileges and duties associated with U.S. citizenship and celebrate their unique contributions to our community.

Community Outreach

In addition to helping attorneys and other community leaders understand one another and the ways in which their respective professions serve the community, the Community Outreach Committee determines the needs of the community and implements projects for meeting those needs. Two important Committee projects, a mentoring program with students at Eisenhower Middle School and The Montgomery County Elder Law Handbook, a free, comprehensive resource to assist seniors making important decisions about their housing, finances, health and more, recently won the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s 2000 County Bar Recognition Awards.

Professional Liaison Committees

These committees help bridge the gap between the legal profession and members of the public who work in medicine, real estate and as accountants and paralegals. They serve the general public by encouraging dialogue that helps improve the delivery of services by all groups involved.