The “Green Event” scholarship fundraiser – one of the most unique annual events on the ACBA calendar – will feature an evening of food, beverages and networking in the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden on Tuesday, May 19 beginning at 5 p.m. The goal of the event is to raise money for the ACBA Environment and Energy Law Section Scholarship Fund. In addition to breathtaking views of the grounds, the event will feature comments from Sue Meyers, the Garden’s Horticulture & Conservation Director, who will discuss ongoing efforts to address invasive species, the Garden’s recent controlled burn, and more. The event also will feature the presentation of a scholarship check to this year’s recipient, thanks in large part to Title Sponsor Civil and Environmental Consultants.

The first-ever ACBA Resource Guide has been published, and is being mailed to all ACBA members. Sponsored by AmeriServ Wealth & Capital Management, the Resource Guide is a modernized replacement of the former ACBA Legal Directory. It contains the hard copy versions of two of the ACBA’s most popular resources: the Expert and Vendor Guide (the hub of vetted business partners, divided by business category), and the Member-to-Member Practice Area Guide (the former Fields of Practice listings, containing listings of members by practice area). An electronic version is available below. Look for the hard copy edition in the mail.

In June 2025, the Allegheny County Bar Association Women in the Law Division conducted a survey of practicing lawyers in Allegheny County to gather information about career paths and day-to-day workplace experiences, including the impact of gender on those experiences. This survey was conducted by an independent research firm. The findings and interpretations presented in the report reflect the firm’s analysis of the data collected. The results are now available.

The Allegheny County Bar Foundation is accepting Board of Trustee applications to fill three open seats, and the deadline to apply is today. Interested applicants (including non-attorneys) are encouraged to apply. Trustees serve for a period of three years. This term will begin on July 1. The foundation board meets a minimum of six times per year on the first Wednesday of alternating months. Meetings begin at noon at ACBA Headquarters.

Trustees must be a Fellows GIVE member of the Bar Foundation or willing to become one upon appointment to the board and should have a proven track record of public service and/or participation with a nonprofit board or other charitable activities.

The national Trial Advocacy College has moved. The comprehensive litigation program and networking event will be held at William and Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Va., from Aug. 8-12. The ACBA Federal Court Section, the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pa. are awarding scholarships; deadline to apply is Friday, May 1. The trial advocacy college provides intensive hands-on advocacy training, daily presentations and demonstrations by trial lawyers and judges from across the nation, as well as the opportunity to try an entire case before a live jury presided over by an experienced judge.

Longtime ACBA Executive Director David A. Blaner is retiring on June 30, concluding a long and historic career. The impact he has made on the Pittsburgh Legal Community – from individual members to entire firms – is undeniable. As a way to bid farewell to Dave, the ACBA will be publishing a commemorative edition of the Lawyers Journal newspaper on July 10. This edition will be filled with content on his impact, memories, and coverage of the 2026 Bench-Bar Conference, which doubles as his going away party.

Firms wishing to congratulate Dave on his retirement are invited to purchase an ad in this farewell edition. Advertising commitments are due by June 1, and all artwork must be submitted by June 8. Pricing information is available at the below link. For more information, contact Jennifer Pulice at jpulice@acba.org or 412-402-6623.

Detailed program descriptions are now available for the 62nd Annual ACBA Bench-Bar Conference, which will be held June 18-20 at Seven Springs Mountain Resort. The adults-only, members-only conference features three days of CLEs, networking, fine dining, social activities, sporting events and more. In total, attendees can earn up to eight CLE credits at Bench-Bar. This year’s Bench-Bar also serves as a farewell celebration for ACBA Executive Director David Blaner, who retires on June 30.

The ACBA is inviting members to a free paper-shredding event in the parking lot at Burns White in Pittsburgh's Strip District today from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Members can bring up to two boxes of papers to be shredded - right in front of your eyes to ensure complete security - by Steel City Shredding's mobile shredding truck. There’s no cost thanks to event sponsors Steel City Shredding and Burns White.

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.

Wellness is crucial, especially for those battling the stresses and challenges that come with the legal profession. To recognize the importance of mental health and well-being in the legal profession, the ACBA has created “Wellness Circles” for members, a vision of ACBA President and cancer survivor Amy Coco.

Currently there are seven Wellness Circles, which are listed below. Members are welcome to suggest ideas for additional Wellness Circles. For more details, FAQs and other information, click the button below.

• Attorneys who Run
• Cancer Survivors
• Parenting Children with Disabilities
• Pickleball
• Sandwich Generation
• Support for Attorneys Battling Mental Health Issues/Addition
• Support for Attorneys with Loved Ones Battling Mental Health Issues/Addiction