Erie County Bar Association

"We are fortunate that, as our community celebrates Law Day, we will play host once again to one of the best and brightest minds in the nation on the subjects of presidential politics and history — what is happening today and what can be learned from our past. (Doris Kearns) Goodwin will also discuss her latest (and eighth) book, "An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s.""  Tickets for ECBA and Jefferson Educational Society's 2024 Law Day event can be purchased at https://lnkd.in/edXdSUGz. Each attendee will receive a copy of Goodwin's latest book!

We cannot wait to hear from Doris Kearns Goodwin live on the Warner Theatre stage at our Law Day event on May 9! Law Day is open to the public - tickets are available now at https://lnkd.in/edXdSUGz.

Chief Justice Samuel J. Roberts Scholarship Offered by the Erie County Law Foundation   The Erie County Law Foundation is accepting applications for the Chief Justice Samuel J. Roberts Scholarship. The scholarship provides financial assistance to law school students from Erie County, PA enrolled in accredited law schools.   Who is Eligible? Residents of Erie County, Pennsylvania, who will be entering their first year at an ABA-accredited law school are eligible to apply for the scholarship. Assuming the availability of funds, and provided that the student maintains a satisfactory academic record, the scholarship may be renewed for the student's second and third years of law school.   The Scholarship The Chief Justice Samuel J. Roberts Scholarship provides financial assistance for tuition, room/board, books/supplies and travel.   Application Applications will be accepted during April and May of each year. Potential candidates may complete the online application (https://lnkd.in/dSmXfCt7) or request an application from the Erie County Law Foundation, 429 West Sixth Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16507, 814-459-3111. Announcements of the availability of the scholarship are made annually. The application and Authorization and Release form must be completed and returned to the Erie County Law Foundation by May 31, 2024.  For renewal of scholarships, the same application procedures apply. Determination of renewal will be based on law school academic records and funding, with the Scholarship Committee deciding whether the student's academic progress is satisfactory.   The Scholarship Committee The Scholarship Committee will review all applications, making its decisions based on established criteria, focusing primarily on financial need, academic achievement, and the applicant's career statement. The Scholarship Committee includes numerous Erie County Law Foundation Trustees, Erie County Bar Association members, former Chief Justice Samuel J. Roberts Scholarship recipients, and laypeople.   While there is no mandate that scholarship winners return to Erie County to practice law, the Committee encourages local law careers.   For additional information Erie County Law Foundation 429 West 6th Street Erie, PA 16507 814-459-3111  

ECBA's Annual Law Day Celebration will be held on May 9, 2024 at 11am at the Warner Theatre. We are thrilled to welcome Presidential Historian and Pulitzer-prize Winning Author, Doris Kearns Goodwin along with Steve Scully to the stage to discuss democracy and the rule of law in the United States as well as her latest book, "An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s", which was released this week. Law Day is open to the public - your ticket purchase includes a copy of Goodwin's "An Unfinished Love Story" as well as lunch in the Grand Lobby of the Warner after the presentation. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://lnkd.in/edXdSUGz or by visiting the ECBA office at 429 W. 6th Street (8:30am-5pm M-F).

The Erie County Bar Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathleen A. O’Neil as its new Executive Director. Ms. O’Neil comes with nonprofit operations experience, most recently as the Director of Fundraising and Business Operations at the Housing and Neighborhood Development Service (HANDS). She begins her duties on January 15, 2024. “I am honored to be appointed as the new Executive Director of the Erie County Bar Association," O'Neil said. “I am excited to work with the board and members of the association to continue the great work that has been done in the past. I look forward to serving the legal community and the public in Erie County.”

If interested in ECBA's Mock Trial program contact Megan Anthony at meanthony@eriebar.com.

Attorney Bill Speros to Lead Erie County Bar Association in 2024! Attorney Bill Speros of MacDonald Illig Jones & Britton, LLP, begins his duties as President of the Erie County Bar Association, effective January 1, 2024. A graduate of Cathedral Preparatory School, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the George Washington University Law School, Attorney Speros will spearhead an ambitious agenda next year. "I anticipate a successful year of working toward the goals and objectives we identified in the ECBA's strategic plan to improve and expand our organization," Speros said. "I look forward to working with the Board of Directors and our fantastic staff to enhance the services we provide to the Erie community and to our members." A member of the ECBA for nine years, Speros has held various leadership positions in the past, serving as Chair of various committees and as a member of the ECBA's Diversity & Inclusion Section. Speros has served on the ECBA Board of Directors since 2019, including as its First Vice President in 2023. Speros is a partner at MacDonald Illig and practices in the firm's business transaction and litigation practice groups. Prior to joining MacDonald Illig, Bill practiced law in the Washington, DC offices of two global law firms, taught as a professor in the legal writing department at GW Law School, and worked as a senior in-house counsel at a global Fortune 250 human capital management company. In January 2022, Bill was appointed as the Solicitor for Erie County and continues to serve the County in that role. Before his law career, Speros served as an officer and pilot in the U.S. Air Force. He is a decorated veteran of several combat and humanitarian operations, including the Kosovo Campaign and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He resides in Millcreek with his wife, Amanda, and their four children.

Congratulations are extended to all of the elected officials who were sworn in today at the Erie County Courthouse.

The Erie County Bar Association will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, to celebrate New Year's Day. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. Happy New Year from the ECBA staff!

The Erie County Bar Association will be closed on Monday, Dec. 25, and Tuesday, Dec. 26 to celebrate the holidays. Happy Holidays from the ECBA staff!