Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) presented a County Bar Recognition Award to the Monroe County Bar Association during the 47th Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders, Feb. 21 – 23, at The Nittany Lion Inn, State College.
Recognized for its 2012 Fairy Tale Trials, the Monroe County Bar Association is one of 21 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 proudly recognize lawyers who voluntarily lead and actively participate in efforts to improve their communities and better the legal profession and the justice system,” said Thomas G. Wilkinson Jr, president, PBA. “The intent of the County Bar Recognition Awards is to encourage even more legal professionals to be part of the organized bar’s ongoing efforts to advance projects and programs that benefit many Pennsylvania citizens.”
The Monroe County Bar Association introduced Fairy Tale Trials to the community in 1993. Still going strong in 2012, Law Day Committee Chair Kimberly Butts and the Fairy Tale Trials subcommittee brought Sponge Bob Square Pants and his cast of characters to life for local fifth grade students. The subcommittee developed and wrote the basic script of the trial. The attorney “actors” had leeway to improvise. Fifty lawyers and judges, most in costumes, participated in the event. Judges took time to explain the various proceedings the students were witnessing. More than 200 students plus parents and teachers attended the event. The association provided financial support to any school district without budgeted funds to provide transportation for students.
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 PBA strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 28,000 lawyers who are members of the association.
