The ACBA Young Lawyers Division is working to make the holidays special for underprivileged children through the annual YLD Children’s Gift Drive and Holiday Party, which provides holiday gifts to hundreds of underprivileged children in area shelters and programs. Here’s how you can help:

• Sponsor a Child – Children will enter their wish lists on DreamList, then members can help by sponsoring a child. DreamList gift lists will be available through Nov. 21. This online website allows us to create angel tree tags so attorneys can shop for the gifts without preselecting items and feel involved in the process. The total cost of gifts per child will range between $60 and $100. To sponsor a child or children, click here or email the ACBA YLD Gift Drive Committee at acbayldtoydrive@gmail.com.
• Stocking Stuffers – You can help stuff stockings for the children on Saturday, Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Koppers Building Conference Center. Sign up via MemberCentral here.
• Monetary Donations – The Children’s Gift Drive also accepts monetary donations to cover expenses such as dry cleaning for the Santa suits, cookie trays, juice boxes and other stocking stuffer items food for the volunteers. To contribute, email acbayldtoydrive@gmail.com for more information.

All members are invited to attend a hands-on introduction to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts with Stout Pittsburgh on Thursday, Nov. 20 beginning at 5 p.m. at Stout Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh’s Strip District. Participants at the event will train skills primarily from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a grappling-based martial art, and will be introduced to the various striking arts and mixed martial arts (MMA) also offered at Stout Pittsburgh. Participants should wear comfortable athletic attire to participate. Space is limited, so those interested should register soon.

For more information, click below.

Emma, a software developer, faced a cascade of account breaches after her personal email was compromised. The root cause? A decade-old gaming forum account using the same password as her email. The forum had recently suffered a data breach, exposing reused credentials and triggering password resets across her digital footprint—including banking and cloud services.

This incident underscores the legal and cybersecurity risks of forgotten accounts. Legacy platforms often lack modern security protocols, making them prime targets for attackers. When passwords are reused, a breach in one system can cascade into widespread compromise.

Attorneys advising clients—or managing firm data—should prioritize digital hygiene. Regularly audit old accounts, delete unused profiles, and ensure unique, strong passwords across services. Use password managers and enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. Encourage clients to treat account management as part of routine compliance, akin to document retention policies.

Emma’s experience is a stark reminder: even trivial accounts can become serious liabilities. Proactive account management is not just good practice, it’s essential risk mitigation. For more, click below.

The ACBA Health and Wellness Committee is forming a walking team for the annual Pittsburgh Marathon – scheduled for Sunday, May 3 – and all members are encouraged to participate. Participants will walk the 13.1-mile half marathon course. ACBA members get a 50 percent discount off of regular registration prices; members who choose not to walk can participate in other ways, such as in cheering sections along the course.

To register, use the code ACBADSGPM26 at the below link. Members registering for the half marathon walk should email their name to ACBA Membership Director Mary Ann Fiorilli after they have registered as an in-house roster will be kept ensuring everyone is invited to the pre- and post-walk activities. She can be contacted by email at mfiorilli@acba.org or by phone at 412-402-6610. Members are also encouraged to contact her if they have any difficulty using the promo code.

If you are considering making a career move, be sure to check out the ACBA Job Board at jobs.acba.org. The Pittsburgh Legal Community’s top resource for legal job postings, the ACBA Job Board gets more than 3,000 page views each month, the vast majority from Pittsburgh-area legal professionals looking for jobs. For more information, contact Jennifer Pulice, the ACBA’s Director of Legal Employment Services, at jpulice@acba.org.

In addition to the hard copy edition that is sent to members through the mail, the Oct. 31 edition of the Lawyers Journal — the ACBA’s flagship publication featuring substantive legal articles and stories of interest to the legal community — is available digitally on the ACBA website and at the button below.

If you have not renewed your ACBA membership for the 2025-26 bar year, you still have time, but the clock is ticking.

The bar year officially started on July 1, and the ACBA has granted a grace period for members to renew, which ended earlier this month. However, the ACBA is extending that grace period to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31. Don’t wait, or you’ll miss out on all that ACBA membership has to offer, including access to Committees, Divisions, and Sections, discounts on CLE, networking opportunities, the opportunity to attend the Bench-Bar Conference and more.

For a snapshot of the benefits of becoming an ACBA member, click below. 

Election Day is less than a week away, and the ACBA Judicial Excellence Committee (PAC) is asking you to help keep qualified judges on the bench.

While many members of the community may not fully understand the importance of retention elections, attorneys typically do understand the vital importance of keeping qualified judges on the bench. That’s why ACBA members are being asked to “Get out and Vote” and encourage your contacts to VOTE YES in this election.

The ACBA has launched a web page – www.ACBA.org/VoteYes – containing resources for members to use in spreading the word. On this page are templates for social media posts, emails, text messages, hand cards and more.

Learn how a well-crafted business exit plan is essential to maximize value, ensure a smooth transition, and secure your financial future. ACBA members are invited to join Fort Pitt Capital Group for their upcoming free lunchtime webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 11.  Financial Advisors Chris Chaney, CEPA, and Paul Brahan, CFP, CEPA, CRPC, will provide an overview of common exit strategies, navigating the process, and the benefits of proactive exit planning. Sign up today and submit your questions. For more information and free registration, click below.

The Pittsburgh Legal Journal – the official legal journal of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas containing trial lists, legal notices, sheriff sales and more – is published five days per week and is available only to subscribers. It is delivered via email as an easy-to-print, 8.5x11-inch pdf. For an informational video on the PLJ, click here.