Husband and wife run two of the region's most important legal organizations
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Patricia Dodge, president of the Academy of Trial Layers of Allegheny County, and her husband, Howard Schulberg, president of the Allegheny County Bar Association.
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Female members of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County recently gave a T-shirt to the academy's new president, Patricia Dodge. The front read "Madame President," while the back said "First Lady."
Another T-shirt was awarded to her husband, Howard Schulberg, who happens to be president of the Allegheny County Bar Association. It read "Mr. President" on the front and "First Husband" on the back.
Mr. Schulberg was elected head of the bar association four months before his wife took the helm at the academy. It's thought to be the first time that a husband and wife have run two of the region's most important legal organizations.
Both organizations work to improve the integrity, professionalism and effectiveness of the practice of law. Both spouses belong to both groups and have taken up their duties with enthusiasm, firm in the belief that the legal system must constantly be working to earn public confidence.
"We've all heard the lawyer jokes," Mr. Schulberg said, "but we're proud to be members of the legal profession and want it to flourish. This is an opportunity to give back."
It helps that they both have a passion for the groups they head -- and don't take themselves too seriously, Ms. Dodge said.
"We're motivated for the good of the organizations, and we both keep a sense of humor," she said.
The bar association has 6,600 members, including judges and attorneys in all kinds of law. It has 40 staff members, and its president is elected by the members. The Academy of Trial Lawyers limits membership to 250 civil litigators, invited in through a rigorous process, and the president is appointed after moving up through committees and the board of governors.
"It's a prestigious organization and a matter of pride to belong to it," Ms. Dodge said.
A native of Scott who attended Penn State University and then Duquesne University's law school at night, Ms. Dodge has been a partner at Meyer, Unkovic & Scott since 1992 and specializes in commercial litigation.
First Published January 2, 2012 12:00 am
