Jeffrey L Pollock Esq.
My mission is to be respected by my clients as a professional who does his best to be a competent, prepared, organized, conscientious, loyal, affordable, and caring legal advocate.
My goal is to create satisfied clients by providing sensitive counsel through the various parts of the legal system. I attempt to make what could be a scary experience a positive, unintimidating one as inexpensively as possible without jeopardizing a case.
I take pride in my ability to represent a diverse clientele in various realms of problem prevention and conflict resolution (based upon being a trained Mediator and CLASP Creator), primarily for Family/Juvenile Law and Criminal Defense (as well as Entertainment, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning/Administration, and Unemployment Compensation Law).
When possible, you and I will work as a team to try to settle issues without the stress of trial, expense of depositions, unpredictability of court, etc. If your matter involves an area of law with which I am not familiar, I can direct you to a colleague with the necessary legal expertise; my Officer/Chair Positions in various Bar Associations and other contacts have proven to be very helpful.
In the event of your having limited resources, I can even act as a “legal coach,” advising on an as-needed/a la carte/unbundled services basis for a reduced fee/no retainer.
Education
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Juris Doctor - 1987
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - B.A. in Criminology (Wharton School of Finance) - 1984
Universite de Compiegne, Compiegne, France - 1983
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania - 1987
U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania - 1987
U.S. Supreme Court - 1986
Honors and Awards
"Legal Leader" Award - Twice, Muscular Dystrophy Association of Western Pennsylvania, 2007-2008
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, One of Pittsburgh's "50 Finest", 2004
Honoree, Jefferson Award for "Community Champion", 2003
Michael K. Smith Award for "Excellence in Service to the Public," Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1999
Approved by Hon. Stanton Wettick as a Special Arbitrator (especially for Landlord-Tenant Cases), 1995 - 1998
ABA Local Affiliate Award for Member Services, (1st Place), 1997
U.S. Supreme Court Induction, 1996
ABA Local Affiliate Award for Public Service (1st Place), 1995
JCC Presidential Citation, 1992
Approved as Equitable
Distribution and Partial Custody Master, 1991
Pro Bono Work
Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Family Division: Volunteer, Indigent Divorce Program, 1992 - 2005
Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Family Division: Volunteer, Past "Pro Se" Motions Project Panel
Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Family Division: Past Co-Mediator, Generations Custody Program
Allegheny County Bar Foundation: NLSA/Hill House Family Law Clinics, Volunteer, 1992 - Present
Project Challenge/NLSA/Legal Aid Society of Pittsburgh, Volunteer, 1993 - Present
ProArts/GPAC: Volunteer Lawyer for "Starving Artists", 1997 - Present
YWCA: Past 2nd Saturday Classes and CLE Speaker/Writer - Domestic Relations & Mediation
"Greenfield Grapevine": Past "Legal Briefs" Columnist, 1998 - 1999
Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Golf Fundraiser Chair, 2001-05; Committee, 1998 - Present
Allegheny County Bar Association: Former Chair, Lawyer Referral Service and Disaster Relief Referral Panelist, 2000 - 2003
United Jewish Federation: Chair, Squirrel Hill Revitalization Project, 2002
United Jewish Federation: Named to Inaugural Select CPAC Board, 2001
Allegheny County Bar Association: Co-Chair, President''s Ball, 1995 - 1998
United Jewish Federation: Yom Hashoa Planning Committee, 1998
United Jewish Federation: Holocaust Commission, 1993 - 1996
Jewish Community Center: Chair, Theatre Committee, 1992 - 1995
United Jewish Federation: Super Sunday/Fundfest Chair, 1993 - 1994
Abraxas Foundation: Cabaret Ball Committee 1992 & 1994
Heart Association: Ball Committee, 1993
Special Olympics: Bachelor(ette) Charitable Fundraising Auction, Co-Creator and Emcee, 1987 - 1989
American Cancer Society: Event Chairperson, New Directions Committee, 1989
Leukemia Society: Board of Trustees, Inaugural Gelatin Slide Committee, 1989 - 1994
Inner City Junior Tennis Development Program: Inaugural Board of Directors, Emcee, 1987 - 1989
United Jewish Federation: Annual Mitzvah Day and Fundfest Volunteer, 1991 - Present
United Way: Day of Caring Former Program Coordinator and Participant
Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition: Former Volunteer and Citizen's Patrol Driver
Open Stage Theatre: Former Board of Directors
Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank: Ongoing Volunteer
Blood Donor for decades until contracting lymphoma (now in remission)
Committed Trash Recycler
Shady Side Academy - Class Agent and Alumni Council Member
St. Edmund's Academy - Class Agent and Alumni Council
Member
Better Business Bureau: Approved as Member in 2005
ZBT: Former University of Pennsylvania Executive Officer
Squirrel Hill Meals on Wheels: Board of Trustees, 2009 - Present
Pittsburgh New Works Festival: Board of Directors, 2009 - Present
ZOA Pittsburgh Chapter: Board of Directors, Communications/P.R. Chair, 2007 - Present
Nightwire Magazine: "Ask the Lawyer" Columnist, 2009 - Present
Associations and Memberships
Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania (CLASP), Co-Creator, Co-Founder, and Inaugural Secretary, 2006-Present
Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania, Former Board of Directors, 1997-2006
Allegheny County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Appointed/Elected to Council, 2004-2007
Allegheny County Bar Association, Bench-Bar Committee, 1992-Present
Allegheny County Bar Association, Judiciary Committee, 1999-2002
Allegheny County Bar Association, Board of Governors, 1994-1999
United Jewish Federation, Chair, Supreme Court Nominee Task Force (Winner of National Grant), 2005
Allegheny County Bar Association, Member, Speaker's Bureau, 1993-1998
Allegheny County Bar Association, Nominating Committee, 1995-1998
Allegheny County Bar Association, Chair, Young Lawyers Division, 1995- 96, 1997 - 1998
Allegheny County Bar Association, Ad Hoc Public Relations Committee, 1998
Allegheny County Bar Association, Finance Committee's Pro Bono Subcommittee, 1996-1997
Allegheny County Bar Association, Planning Committee, 1997
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, Partial Custody Master; Special Arbitrator for Compulsory Arbitration, 1995-1996
Allegheny County Bar Association, Performer, Players Section, 1989-1995
Allegheny County Bar Association, Judge Baer's Middle School Peer Court Program, Inaugural Defense Supervisor, 1995
Allegheny County Bar Association, Secretary, Young Lawyers Division, 1993
Allegheny County Bar Association, Chair, Young Lawyers' Section, Member Services Committee, 1991-1992
Allegheny County Bar Association, Public Relations Chair, Legislative Subcommittee, 1992