Supreme Court Boards

Oversees the admission of lawyers to the Pennsylvania bar and administers the bar examination for lawyers entering the profession.

The Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners recommends the admission of persons to the bar and the practice of law in the Commonwealth. It also recommends rules pertaining to bar admission and practice. It administers the bar examination for lawyers entering the profession. The Board consists of seven members of the Pennsylvania bar who are eligible to serve a maximum of two three-year terms. It is comprised of lawyers and judges who reside and work throughout the state. Learn more.

Administers ongoing education programs for lawyers.

Pennsylvania is committed to the quality administration and regulation of the rules for continuing legal education, rules which were adopted to assure that lawyers admitted to practice in Pennsylvania continue their education to maintain the required knowledge and skill necessary to fulfill their professional responsibilities. The board’s goal is to have a credible and respected CLE program.

The Continuing Legal Education Board has 10 members who may serve two consecutive three-year terms. Members must be active lawyers with Pennsylvania as their primary residence. Learn more.

Enforces the Rules of Professional Conduct and the ethical code for lawyers.

The Disciplinary Board reviews conduct and assures compliance by all attorneys to the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct. Its goals are to protect the general public and maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession.

The Disciplinary Board is composed of 13 members of which 11 are lawyers and two are non-lawyers. Members are appointed to three-year terms and may be reappointed to a second three-year term. The board meets regularly and makes decisions concerning cases before them as well as policies and personnel matters. Learn more.

Provides funds for civil legal services to the poor and disadvantaged of Pennsylvania.

The core mission of the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Board is to support the provision of civil legal services to the Commonwealth’s poor and disadvantaged.

The Pennsylvania IOLTA Board is governed by a nine-member board of directors. Members are appointed to a three-year term and no member may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Members are familiar with legal practice and procedure in Pennsylvania federal or state courts. They also often have experience with financial institution practices. Learn more.

To ensure the continued integrity and public trust of the Pennsylvania judiciary, the Judicial Ethics Advisory Board (JEAB) is to provide prompt, reliable, and consistent advice upon request of any individual subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct and/or the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges.

Governed by a nine-member board, the JEAB is the only entity authorized to issue formal advisory opinions affording judicial officers and judicial candidates the rule of reliance. Learn more.

Administers certification and ongoing education programs for magisterial district judges and Philadelphia arraignment court magistrates.

The Minor Judiciary Education Board provides quality legal education and ethics training to magisterial district judges, senior magisterial district judges, arraignment court magistrates and prospective judicial officers and certifies those individuals meet its high standards. In addition, the board assures that incumbent judicial officers of the minor judiciary maintain proficiency through mandated continuing education.

The Minor Judiciary Education Board has seven members who serve for terms of three years with possible reappointment for a second three-year term. In special circumstances the Supreme Court may extend or reduce the term of an appointment. Vacancies are filled for the balance of the term. Board members include three judges from magisterial district courts or the Traffic Division of Philadelphia Municipal Court, three members of the Pennsylvania bar and one lay person. Learn more.

Ensures clients will be repaid when lawyers misallocate funds.

The Pennsylvania Lawyers Fund for Client Security reimburses clients who have suffered a loss as a result of a misappropriation of funds by their Pennsylvania attorney.

The Fund is comprised of a seven-member board, whose members are knowledgeable about the practice of federal or state law in Pennsylvania. Members are appointed to three-year terms and no member may serve more than two consecutive three-year terms. Learn more.