The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is aided by select boards, committees, commissions and councils consisting of more than 180 appointed volunteers – most, but not all, are lawyers and judges.
The panels have a wide range of responsibilities and functions. Some make recommendations to the Court for amendments, revisions or simplification of court procedural rules. Others regulate the practice of law, oversee continuing legal education for lawyers and administer funds to assist individuals unable to pay for legal services. Still others advise on keeping the courts free of bias and discrimination and on long-range planning.
There are currently nine vacancies on these panels:
- Disciplinary Board – There are three positions available; two positions are for lawyer-members and one position is for a non-lawyer member. Lawyer applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania bar and all applicants should be knowledgeable about the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct and Pennsylvania Rules of Disciplinary Enforcement.
- PA Board of Law Examiners – There are two positions available. Applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania bar or jurists and be knowledgeable about law school curriculum, legal practice and attorney ethical obligations. Please note – law school faculty may not serve on this Board. Applicants should not apply if, during the term of service, they will have immediate family members who will be taking the bar examination or seeking membership in the Pennsylvania bar.
- PA Lawyers Fund for Client Security – There is one position available. Applicants should be knowledgeable about the practice of federal or state law in Pennsylvania and about a lawyer’s duties to clients.
- Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee – There are two positions available. Applicants should be knowledgeable about the Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure and experienced in juvenile law practice in Pennsylvania, including dependency and delinquency matters.
- Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee – There is one position available. Applicants should be knowledgeable about the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure governing domestic relations matters, and experienced in family law practice in Pennsylvania.
Application information may be found on the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania website. Applications are due by January 31, 2020.