Pennsylvania Bar Foundation

SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE.THE MISSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION IS TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE THE PUBLIC'S UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW AND PROMOTE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE. THE FOUNDATION ACCOMPLISHES ITS MISSION BY MAKING GRANTS; ADMINISTERING A LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR CIVIL LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS WHO HELP THE POOR FOR FREE; SEEKING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE OF THE LEGAL COMMUNITY; AND ENCOURAGING BAR MEMBERS TO DONATE THEIR TIME, TALENT AND EXPERTISE IN SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMIN SEPTEMBER OF 2010, THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA IOLTA BOARD, LAUNCHED A LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR ATTORNEYS EMPLOYED BY IOLTA-FUNDED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE FREE CIVIL LEGAL AID TO INDIGENT PENNSYLVANIANS.THE PROGRAM HAS TWO GOALS: 1) TO ASSIST LEGAL AID ATTORNEYS IN BETTER MANAGING THEIR EDUCATIONAL DEBT SO THEY CAN AFFORD TO CHOOSE AND REMAIN IN PUBLIC SERVICE CAREERS; AND 2) TO HELP CIVIL LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS ATTRACT AND RETAIN SKILLED AND TALENTED LAWYERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.TO DATE, THE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE TO MORE THAN 375 ATTORNEYS AND IS BUDGETED TO AWARD MORE THAN TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN LOAN ASSISTANCE DURING ITS FOURTH THREE YEAR CYCLE.

SCHOLARSHIPS -THE JAMES W. STOUDT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF THE PENNSYLVANIA BAR FOUNDATION AWARDS MODEST SCHOLARSHIPS TO PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENTS ATTENDING ANY ONE OF THE NINE ACCREDITED LAW SCHOOLS SERVING PENNSYLVANIA. THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND IS SUPPORTED BY THE NET PROCEEDS OF AN ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION.IN 2021, THE FOUNDATION AWARDED THREE $3,000 SCHOLARSHIPS. THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED COMPETITIVELY, BASED ON THE APPLICANT'S PROGRESS, FINANCIAL NEED, PENNSYLVANIA RESIDENCY, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND POTENTIAL FOR MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION EITHER THROUGH ANTICIPATED LEGAL WORK OR OTHER EFFORTS AS DISCUSSED IN THE APPLICANT'S ESSAY. TWO OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED TO THE SUPPORT OF HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITY LAW STUDENTS.SINCE IT'S INCEPTION IN 2003, THE PROGRAM HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $197,000, HELPING MORE THAN 125 PENNSYLVANIA LAW STUDENTS OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR LAW SCHOOL EDUCATION.

CIVICS AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAM -LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS SEEK TO HELP INTEGRATE CIVICS INTO THE CLASSROOM CURRICULUM OF ALL GRADE LEVELS AND SUBJECT AREAS. TWO OF THE MAJOR PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO DO THIS ARE THE CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION PROGRAM AND THE LAW DAY PROGRAM.THE CELEBRATE THE CONSITUTION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. THE AWARD-WINNING CELEBRATE THE CONSTITUTION BRINGS TOGETHER K-12 STUDENTS, LAWYERS AND JUDGES FOR MOCK CONSTITUTION SIGNING PROGRAMS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA. THE ANNUAL PROGRAM KICKS-OFF IN SEPTEMBER DURING THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION WEEK CELEBRATION AND CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THE FALL. ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS AND COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATIONS RECEIVE CONSTITUTION-RELATED MATERIALS FOR THE SIGNING PROGRAMS.THE LAW DAY PROGRAM ALLOWS PENNSYLVANIA LAWYERS AND JUDGES TO VISIT K-12 CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF MAY TO TEACH STUDENTS ABOUT THE LAW. SUPPORTING MATERIALS, SUCH AS LAW-RELATED LESSON PLANS AND SOUVENIRS WITH LOTS OF KID APPEAL ARE DISTRIBUTED TO LAWYERS, JUDGES, AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH MAKING THE DAY NOT ONLY INSTRUCTIVE BUT ALSO MEMORABLE AND FUN.FOUNDATION FUNDING SUPPORTS THE PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 20,000 POCKET U.S. CONSTITUTION BOOKLETS EACH YEAR AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS AND LESSON PLANS RELATED TO THE CONSTITUTION.

PRO BONO - $6,574NAMED SCHOLARSHIPS - $3,000GOFFMAN AWARD - $2,243UNIT COUNTY GRANT MATCHING PROGRAM - $1,000BIRDSALL IMPACT GRANT - $24