BARRISTERS' ASSOCIATION

ESTABLISHED IN 1950, THE BARRISTERS' ASSOCIATION OF PHILADELPHIA, INC.'S PURPOSE, THEN AND NOW, HAS BEEN TO ADDRESS THE PROFESSIONAL NEEDS AND DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK LAWYERS IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS SEMINARS, CULTURAL EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS. THE WORK OF THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES YEARS LATER WITH ONGOING EFFORTS TO SUPPORT ITS MISSION. SINCE THE EARLY YEARS OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT, THE BARRISTERS' ASSOCIATION HAS ALSO RECOGNIZED THE NEED, AND IT'S OBLIGATION, TO BE A PRO-ACTIVE ADVOCATE FOR THE CAUSE AGAINST INJUSTICE. IN 1973, MEMBERS OF THE BARRISTERS' ASSOCIATION SERVED ON THE LIACOURAS COMMISSION, WHICH INVESTIGATED WAYS TO ELIMINATE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN BAR ADMISSION PROCEDURES. IN 1978, THE BARRISTERS' ASSOCIATION JOINED OTHER CONCERNED GROUPS IN FILING AN ACTION AGAINST THE PHILADELPHIA REGISTRATION COMMISSION WHICH RESULTED IN THE ADDITION OF 50,000 PHILADELPHIANS TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION POOLS. IN 1983, THE BARRISTERS' ASSOCIATION PROVIDED TESTIMON