The Franklin County Bar Association and the Court Administration of the 39th Judicial District of Pennsylvania invite you to join us for a Special Ceremony, Monday, January 5, 2015 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 1 of the Franklin County Courthouse.

 

The ceremony will mark the retirement of President Judge Herman, and the commencement of Judge Van Horn as President Judge of the 39th Judicial District. 

 

The FCBA will host a reception after the ceremony in the Jury Assembly room.  

   

Phil Cosentino received the Edmund C. Wingerd Jr. Award during the annual Admissions Ceremony of the FCBA held on December 5.

Melanie Cosentino Brunner, Phil Cosentino, Tommy Brunner, Kathy Cosentino, Tony Cosentino, Taia Altiero-Cosentino

The goal of the Edmund C. Wingerd Jr. Award is to recognize those attorneys in the FCBA who carry on the honorable tradition of private client solicitor, someone who thoroughly
understands and honors the needs of his or her clients, and consistently demonstrates professional and personal deportment in addressing and serving those needs.

"I can't think of a member of the bar association who is more deserving of this recognition," said FCBA President Clint Barkdoll, who presented the award. "Phil is an excellent attorney and a true servant leader. All of us should strive to emulate him," Barkdoll added.

Clint Barkdoll and Phil Cosentino

Cosentino is a partner in the Chambersburg law firm of DiLoreto, Cosentino & Bolinger. He received his bachelor's degree, cum laude, from LaSalle University in 1976. He received his juris doctorate degree, cum laude, from The Dickinson School of Law in 1979. He is a past president of the FCBA. He is a founding board member of Franklin County Legal Services and frequently provides pro bono services to area residents in need of free legal assistance.

Cosentino has served for many years as the chair of the St. Vincent DePaul Society of Corpus Christi Church, where under his leadership, the organization has helped feed, clothe, and shelter countless underprivileged members of the local community. He is also a past president of the
Chambersburg Lions Club. 

Cosentino has been married to his wife, Kathy, for more than 36 years. They are the parents of three children and two grandchildren.

Prior recipients of the Edmund C. Wingerd Jr. Award include: Thomas Steiger, Sr., Leroy Maxwell, Sr., John Sharpe, Denis DiLoreto, Thomas J. Finucane, and Jay L. Benedict, Jr.

  

front row - Casey Bogner, Mallary Willatt, Nicole Huffman, Maureen Spang, Tiffany Watson, back row - Tara Franklin, Nathaniel Spang, Lam Truong, Rosby Carr, Jeffrey Hall-Gale, Michael Harmon, and Ricky Lewis

The FCBA admitted 13 new members at its Admission Ceremony held on Friday, December 5, 2014.

The new members include Maureen F. Spang who is self-employed; Lam D. Truong of Franklin County Legal Services; Rosby M. Carr law clerk to Honorable Carol Van Horn; Krystal J. MacIntyre of DiLoreto, Cosentino and Boliger, P.C.; Jeffrey Hall-Gale law clerk to Honorable Shawn D. Meyers; Michael W. Harmon of Dorsett Law Firm; Nicole M. Huffman of MidPenn Legal Services; Ricky W. Lewis of the Franklin County District Attorney's Office; Tiffany A. Watson of the District Attorney's Office; Nathaniel F. Spang of Walker, Connor and Spang, LLC; Tara M. Franklin of the Franklin County Public Defender's Office; Casey Bogner of the Franklin County Public Defender's Office; and Mallary Willatt of the Law Offices of WIN Victim Services.

The ceremony, held in historic Courtroom One of the Franklin County Courthouse, included words of advice to the new admittees from Pennsylvania Bar Association President Frank O'Connor, Franklin County Bar Association President Clint Barkdoll and outgoing Young Lawyers Division Chair Theresa Yaukey.

  

 

Dear Members,

As many of you know, the Franklin County Bar Foundation (FCBF) was incorporated in 2014.  Recently, the IRS approved the FCBF's application for 501(c)3 status.  The Foundation elected its inaugural board and officers at an organizational meeting last week.  The mission of the FCBF is to carry on and expand law-related charitable and educational services, and to promote and foster public awareness and education of the law and the legal system. 

Effective January 2, 2015, you will have the opportunity to donate fees you receive from serving on arbitration panels to the FCBF.  This program is entirely voluntary.  Each time you serve on an arbitration panel, the prothonotary will provide you with a form, which will allow you to either receive the arbitration fees, or to donate the fees directly to the FCBF.  In the event you donate the fees to the FCBF, the form will also serve as evidence of your tax deductible contribution.

I encourage all members to consider donating your arbitration fee income to the FCBF.  As bar members, it is important for us to support this very worthwhile endeavor.  The FCBF will prove to be a valuable resource for all attorneys and residents of Franklin County for many generations to come.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2015.

Clint Barkdoll, President
Franklin County Bar Association

 

  

 

FCBA will be conducting a Bridge the Gap CLE/Lunch & Learn on Friday, January 16, 2015, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the FCBA Office. 

 

Program Summary

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has added a Bridge the Gap  requirement for newly admitted  lawyers. The program is designed to provide the type of information necessary to smooth the transition from law student to attorney. It is intended to give recent law school graduates the "know-how" which is otherwise learned through trial and error. The Bridge the Gap requirement must be fulfilled prior to a newly admitted lawyer's first CLE requirement deadline. This basic program will provide practical insight into key areas that new lawyers need to know in order to comply with the Rules of Professional Conduct and avoid potential malpractice claims. This seminar will fulfill the Bridge the Gap requirement for newly admitted Pennsylvania attorneys. Moderators will lead the discussion and answer participants' questions.

 

CLE Credit and Registration

Pennsylvania attorneys will earn 4 ethics credits. Fill out the registration form below, include your check (if  applicable)  and mail it to FCBA, 100 Lincoln Way East, Suite E, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Or you may pay via credit card at  

 

http://www.franklinbar.org/event/bridge-the-gap-cle/ 

 

Registration Form

 

You may RSVP by contacting Amelia Ambrose via phone 717-267-2032 or via email director@franklinbar.org.

 

This CLE session is limited to 20 participants. 

  

There are two ways you can help Deputy Hall and his family. Monetary donations are being accepting online at www.gofundme.com/gfoypg. 

Public Opinion Article 

The FCBA's Find a Lawyer Program allows potential clients to locate attorneys on our website and by calling the office. 

Members have the opportunity to be listed in an easily searchable database on the FCBA website. Each eligible member may take advantage of 1 free listing (Area of Practice). An additional 5 listings may be purchased, with discounts for attorneys practicing less than 10 years.

  

The PBA's Bar Leadership Institute is conducting a survey about civility and professionalism in the legal profession. More information will be coming out from PBA regarding this survey. You may complete the paper survey below and return it to the FCBA office, or you may complete the survey online. 

Online Survey

All survey responses are anonymous.

 

  

The Franklin County Law Library is discarding PBI books that are 5 years old. Please see the attached list. You may stop by the Law Library before January 31st to pick up any books you would like to have. If you see books on the list you are interested in Amelia can hold them for you, or put them in your Courthouse mailbox. 

 

List of PBI Books

  

  

  

 

There were quite a few members of the bar present for the induction of new members on December 5, 2014.  Matt Fogal did not disappoint with his introductions.  In addition, there was an erudite discussion of baseball teams and football teams deserving of fan recognition.  The highlight, however, was Judge Zook's address to the new members.  I thought it bears a repeat, because it's good advise that applies to us all.  Here are his remarks: