The City of Philadelphia Law Department’s 25th annual CLE (continuing legal education) was a phenomenal success. Over 300 attendees enjoyed two days of intriguing, thought-provoking discourse.
Thursday included an eye-opening presentation on the state of data privacy rights in the United States and the issues that accompany our increasing dependency on smart devices. The Supreme Court Update had many of us on the edges of our seats; our panelists demystified recent Supreme Court decisions and explained the significance of the Chief Justice calling out the Trump Administration for offering “contrived” reasons to justify adding the citizenship question to the Census. We also learned about the numerous measures and protections implemented by the Commonwealth and the City to ensure the integrity of our election process and to safeguard it from interference.
Friday began with a compelling, empirical demonstration that the effects of America’s history of legalized racism currently manifest in our educational, housing, and criminal justice systems; we were invited to build the “beloved community” and reminded that the fight against racial inequity needs the alliance of those who may not suffer from it.
We later explored the vital role that the Law Department plays in City government’s complex public relations machine, and the ethical and legal challenges that we often confront in the process. The CLE ended with a presentation on the mechanics of Pennsylvania’s recent Clean Slate legislation, which expands the sealing of criminal records for certain low-level, non-violent offenses—a significant step forward in combating poverty and creating opportunity in the Commonwealth.
At our annual luncheon, we heard why working at the Law Department can be the “best job ever,” and we honored our colleagues during an awards ceremony. Congratulations again to all of our winners, including our first-ever Champion of Diversity Award recipient, Michelle Flamer. We had to give Michelle two standing ovations; so true to her work, Michelle missed the first one because she was advising the Mayor’s Administration on yet another major diversity initiative.