The Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) will be presenting a program entitled Opening the Courthouse Doors to Limited English Proficient Individuals: Language Access in PA Courts and Administrative Agencies on March 16, 2015 from 12:00 pm - 4:15 pm Eastern.

The program will be presented in-person at The CLE Conference Center, Wanamaker Bldg (now Macy's), 10th Floor, Ste. 1010, Philadelphia, PA. The program will also be presented live via simulcast at the following locations:

In addition to the live presentation and simulcasts there will be a Live Webcast of the program available for distance learning CLE credit.

​The program will will focus on language access in Pennsylvania courts and administrative agencies, including state and federal language access requirements, the mechanics of working with an interpreter in your office and/or during a legal proceeding, and the ethical issues to consider when working with interpreters and LEP individuals. 

The faculty for the program consists of outstanding attorneys and professionals, including individuals from the Administrative Office for Pennsylvania Courts and the U.S. Department of Justice, a Judge and Deputy Court Administrator from the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and attorneys from legal services organizations.

Topics discussed during the presentation will include:

• Learn the impact of Recent Changes to Language Access Requirements including information on the implementation of the PA Court and Administrative Proceeding Interpreter Certification Law and regulations.
• Understand the Mechanics of Working with Interpreters
• Explore the Role of the Judge, Interpreter, Court Administrator, and Attorney
• Gain Practical Advice about Effectively Representing LEP Clients

Art Read of Friends of Farmworkers, one of the Course Planners for the program stated, "Over the past year, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) has undertaken to require all judicial districts to fully implement the federal and state requirements for full access to all courts for LEP individuals including pro se litigants.  This CLE seminar seeks to empower attorneys, paralegals, court administrators, judges, and court interpreters to each understand their roles in making those requirements a functioning reality."

Four (4) CLE credits, one (1) of which may be applied toward Ethics are available to attendees of the program. Ethics information has been integrated throughout this program. To receive ethics credit, you must attend the entire course. 

PBI's Tuition Waiver Program for Legal Services Attorneys

The Pennsylvania Bar Institute provides a complete waiver of tuition fees for the first 12 hours of CLE taken to satisfy the Pennsylvania mandatory CLE requirement in any calendar year for all attorneys employed on a full-time basis by Pennsylvania civil or criminal Section 501(c)(3) legal services or public interest organizations. For additional courses (over and above the first 12 hours), eligible attorneys may enroll at 50 percent of the highest member fee. This waiver applies only to attorneys in Section 501(c)(3) organizations that provide legal services at no or de minimus fee to individual members of the public.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM:

To Register to Attend the Live Program in Philadelphia, or Simulcast Program at another location, you may:

• Call PBI Toll Free at 1-800-932-4637 and ask for our Customer Service Department. When registering, legal services attorneys should advise customer service of the legal services organization by which they are employed, and provide the promo code: legalserv2015; OR
   
• Complete and submit the registration form on the attached brochure by regular mail or fax. Legal services attorneys should identify the legal services organization by which they are employed and note the promo code legalserv2015 on the registration form.

To Register to Attend a Live Webcast of the Program:

• On or after Monday, March 2, 2015, go on-line at www.PBI.org, create an account. Legal services attorneys should register using the promo code: legalserv2015.  At the time of registration, please identify the legal services organization by which you are employed. 

The promo code is only valid for this course and should only be used by legal services attorneys eligible to attend under PBI's tuition waiver program. Attorneys who register for the program using the above promo code that are not employed by a PBI approved legal services organization will be billed for their attendance at the program.

Paralegal, Court Administrator and Interpreter Discount

Pennsylvania Bar Institute has also established a special rate of $29 for Paralegals, Court Administrators and Interpreters who register in advance for the CLE.

Attorney and paralegals not affiliated with legal services organizations are also urged to attend this important program. Those advocates can register for the program either using the registration form on the attached brochure or online on the PBI website.

​If you have questions or problems registering online, please contact, Angela Edris at aedris@pbi.org or Evelyn Bupp ebupp@pbi.org.

Program Brochure 
Memorandum from Art Read, Friends of Farmworkers and Course Planner