The Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) presented County Bar Recognition Awards during the 44th Annual Seminar of the Conference of County Bar Leaders, Feb. 25 - 27, in Lancaster.

Twenty-six local bar associations in Pennsylvania were honored for sponsoring projects and programs to improve the legal profession, justice system and community. The awards, which are non-competitive in nature, are sponsored annually by the PBA.

"Each year, thousands of Pennsylvania lawyers voluntarily invest their time and expertise in programs that improve our local communities and this ongoing commitment to service is to be commended," said PBA President Clifford E. Haines. "It is our hope that the County Bar Recognition Awards will encourage even more legal professionals to take part in activities that make positive impacts on the lives of their fellow citizens."

The following local bar associations received awards for notable projects and programs:

• Allegheny County Bar Association: Backpack Project
• Berks County Bar Association: Speed Networking Events and Diversity Pipeline
• Blair County Bar Association: Credit Card Court "Low Bono" Assistance Program
• Bucks County Bar Association: Diversity Symposium and Sexting Prevention Task Force
• Butler County Bar Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Helpdesk, Red Mass and Hymn, and Charles E. Dillon Memorial Cup
• Centre County Bar Association: Eugene W. Lederer Bar Center Opening, "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Helpdesk and Naturalization Day Ceremony
• Chester County Bar Association: TRIAL RUN Event, Wings for Success Clothing Drive and Veterans Day Celebration
• Clearfield County Bar Association: Legal Eagles 9
• Cumberland County Bar Association: Law Day 2009
• Dauphin County Bar Association: New Membership Benefit
• Delaware County Bar Association: District Justice Committee - Free Seminars to the Community, Community Outreach Committee - Working Wardrobe Clothing Drive and Corporate Counsel Committee - Membership Drive
• Erie County Bar Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Helpdesk
• Franklin County Bar Association: Breakfast with the Candidates, Project KidCare Event and Law Day
• Lackawanna Bar Association: Legal Legends Seminar
• Lancaster Bar Association: "Wills for Heroes" Event
• Lebanon County Bar Association: Outstanding Senior Award, Modest Means Program and Pro Bono Recognition Ceremony
• Lycoming Law Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Initiative, Lawctoberfest and Law Day 2009
• Monroe County Bar Association: Bar Foundation Raffles, Young Lawyers Division's "Spirit of Giving" Events and Superior Court Welcome and Reception
• Montgomery Bar Association: MBA 125 - A Yearlong Celebration, Marking 125 Years of Service to the Profession and Community, Montgomery Bar Association 1980 - 2009: Meeting the Challenges of a Dynamic Era Book and the Judicial Candidate Media Project
• Northampton County Bar Association: Holiday Hope Chest Project, Project KidCare Event and Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program
• Pike County Bar Association: Publication of the Pike County Legal Journal, Formation of Charitable Committee and Continuing Legal Education Program
• Schuylkill County Bar Association: Courthouse Bicentennial Pins, Commonwealth Court Dinner, Breast Cancer Awareness Event
• Washington County Bar Association: "Get Help Now, Pennsylvania" Events and "Wills for Heroes: Program
• Westmoreland Bar Association: Innocence Project Art Show and Continuing Legal Education Program, Custody Conciliation Partnership with Family Law Committee and Defending the Judiciary
• Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association: Juvenile Defense Training and Continuing Legal Education Programs, Centennial Race Judicata and Summer Outing
• York County Bar Association: "Sidebar Monthly" Program and Supreme Court Admission Ceremony