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Living and Practicing Law in Philadelphia [by Dan Binstock] The City of Brotherly Love is generally known for its historical significance. Less well known, however, is that Philadelphia offers a vibrant legal community and a quality of life that belies its status as one of the five largest cities in the country.
Although Philadelphia has traditionally con-
system in neighboring Delaware is, along with
your fingertips. If you enjoy the outdoors, Fair-
jured up Benjamin Franklin-like images of
the Southern District of New York, one of the
mount Park is the world’s largest landscaped
American history and landmarks (it is, after
two most important sites of bankruptcy filings
city park, with 8,700 acres of creeks, mead-
all, the place where the United States was
(especially the “pre-packaged” filings). In
ows, trails, and 100 miles of jogging, biking,
conceived, declared, and ratified), Philadel-
light of the recent wave of corporate scandals,
in-line skating, and hiking paths. Fairmount
phia has emerged as the fifth-largest city
corporate governance is likewise a growing
Park also features the Philadelphia Zoo (the
in the United States and the second-larg-
practice. Aside from corporate law, other
oldest in America), over 20 of America’s most
est on the East Coast. This popularity is no
current strong practice areas in Philadel-
spectacular colonial mansions, hundreds of
surprise, given that Philadelphia offers all
phia are intellectual property, insurance and
statues, a variety of lush gardens, a Japanese
the advantages and resources of a vibrant,
healthcare, labor and employment, antitrust,
teahouse, as well as 105 tennis courts, 73
cosmopolitan city-a booming business district,
real-estate, and municipal and bond work.
baseball fields, six pools, six golf courses,
monolithic skyscrapers and high-rise hotels,
Litigators (in numerous different practice
and several amphitheaters. Visitors can also
world-class cultural attractions and enter-
areas) are also in high demand, especially
rent sailboats and canoes, or hear symphony
tainment, the largest number of four-star
given that Philadelphia is home to the Third
concerts in the summer while smelling freshly
rated restaurants in America, an Ivy-league
Circuit Court of Appeals, the Eastern District
cut grass under a canopy of twilight stars. And
university, national sports teams, the largest
of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme
Philadelphia has numerous surrounding state
landscaped city park in the world, and scores
Court, and state appellate and trial courts.
parks that offer refuge and opportunity to
of hip stores, funky art galleries, and lively
those who enjoy camping.
night life, to name just a few. Fortunately,
Although salaries in the Philadelphia legal
Philadelphia has managed to preserve the
market are generally not quite as high as
If you’re looking for culture, arts, and en-
small-town charm, warmth, and down-to-
those in neighboring New York City, there
tertainment, you’re in the right place. For
earth attitude that has helped it earn a reputa-
are two important caveats: Philadelphia law
starters, Avenue of the Arts is Philadelphia’s
tion as the “City of Brotherly Love.”
firms have a reputation for providing attorneys
premier entertainment and arts district.
with a better quality of life and lower bill-
Stretching 3.5 miles and adorned by beauti-
From a legal perspective, Philadelphia has a
able hours, and Philadelphia is an unusually
ful street lamps and walkways, the Avenue
very established legal community, and offers
affordable place to live. For the price of an
of the Arts is home to many of Philadelphia’s
opportunities in just about every practice
average one or two-bedroom apartment in
cultural attractions, and houses dozens of
area. Philadelphia has a very large corpo-
New York City, one could purchase a posh and
music, theatre, and dance venues; over half-
rate practice, which is due in part to the fact
roomy condominium or row-house in Phila-
a-dozen museums and art galleries; several
that Philadelphia is home to 20 Fortune 500
delphia, or a beautiful single-family home
sporting venues; world-class hotels; over 40
companies, and more than 75 Fortune 1000
and yard within a hop, skip, and a jump of
restaurants; swanky bars and chic clubs, and
companies maintain a significant presence in
downtown. According to the www.bestplaces.
fine shopping. The centerpiece of the Avenue
the region. Furthermore, there is somewhat of
net website, one would need to make $190,000
of the Arts is the new Kimmel Center for the
a lack of development of large law firms in the
in New York City in order to afford the same
Performing Arts. The Kimmel Center contains
nearby corporate center of Wilmington, Dela-
lifestyle that one could have making only
several state-of-the-art concert halls and
ware, which has fueled Philadelphia’s growth
$100,000 in Philadelphia.
theaters (set under a breathtaking 150-foot
in this field. Along the same lines, many
vaulted glass ceiling) and seats over 3,000
Philadelphia corporate practice groups have
Once you’ve shut down your computer and
people. The Kimmel Center is home to The
added bankruptcy practices, which seems to
left your office for the day (or, hopefully, the
Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philly Pops®,
be a natural step because the federal court
weekend), your recreation of choice will be at
the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia,
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