Behind the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer: A Complete Guide

A Glimpse into the Philly Legal Intelligencer

The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer is the oldest daily law journal in the United States and as such holds a pivotal place in both Philadelphia’s legal community and the city’s history. The newspaper has practiced at 1505 Market since 1253, when the building opened. But it was Charles Robinson, who bought the paper in 1864, who built the shining temple of law that graces the corner of Market and Broad today. Robinson broadened the paper’s perspective—to reflect not just the views of lawyers themselves but of "all the people, all the men and women of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, to whomever the law might apply, whose interests would be served by an accurate report of the daily doings of the bar, the business and the courts."
The company merged with the Philadelphia Law Times in 1923 , and the two publications then were published under the same roof until 1978, when the Law Times was suspended due to the rising cost of newsprint and labor.
In 1950, Legal Intelligencer reporter Robert Zeller won a Pulitzer Prize for an investigation into the illegal practices of judges in the Philadelphia Orphans’ Court. Four years later, Anthony N. Fritz, who would go on to be elected Chief Justice of Pennsylvania in 1982, won a Pulitzer for an article he wrote for the Intelligencer that exposed problems with the real estate tax assessment in the city.
Today, as part of Incisive Media, the Legal Intelligencer continues to be published daily. It provides coverage of local, state, and national legal issues, although in line with trends in the newspaper industry, its print edition has shrunk to three days a week.

Philly Legal Intelligencer Reads: Features and Columns

As a long-standing leader in legal reporting, the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer has always strived to provide comprehensive coverage of the Pennsylvania state and local court systems. The Legal Intelligencer continues its legacy by providing insightful analyses and in-depth commentary on relevant rulings, procedural changes, district court operations, and more. The paper offers a dedicated court news section, which comprises judicial profiles of Pennsylvania state judges, as well as a weekly immigration law column that focuses on recent developments in federal immigration law. The paper provides summaries of recent state and federal appellate decisions, as well as select trial court rulings and verdicts from across the region. The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer also features special sections on practicing law in the modern era, the business of running a law firm, changes in the rules governing reporting of ethics and discipline matters, and biweekly columns on e-discovery, family law, business law and technology, personal injury and commercial litigation. The paper routinely features well-credentialed guest opinions from leading members of the bar, the bench, and academia.

How to Use and Search the Legal Intelligencer

The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer can be accessed in several ways for thorough and effective legal research. There is a print edition, of course, with a comprehensive supplement section, The Legal Intelligencer Extra. The paper also has a digital counterpart, which includes a free version that does not require a subscription but carries limited news and abbreviations for opinions only. To get the full Inquirer-level news and information, readers will need a digital site subscription. It’s easy to pay for a digital subscription—and it doesn’t have to be one for the full site. There are individual subscriptions for specific practice areas.
The Intelligencer has its own mobile app. Once downloaded, and if your phone has search capability, you can search by case title, type of legal document, a phrase from an opinion, or a word such as "per curiam."
A subscriber can log in to view a selected opinion from Pennsylvania or any other state. This is not the same as typing the citation into Lexis Advance.
The web version is searchable, but not as easily as the app, which draws on multiple years’ worth of case law for all 50 states and the federal court system. The web site is easily browsable for daily news, opinions, or opinions by topic.
A note about the app: It doesn’t allow you to select headlines. You have to scroll through them. In addition, the "My Briefcase" function is a space for you to store opinions you’ve keyed in.
The mobile app includes a feature for sharing excerpts from opinions.
The breakdown of the subscription offers a range of choices for law professionals with different needs.

Who are the Lawyers, Readers, and Editors of the Legal Intelligencer

The contributors to the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer, though a small group in number, are vast in their experience and expertise. The journal takes pride in presenting commentaries and insights from some of the most experienced practitioners in the field, as well as scholars and experts who frequently contribute their learned and insightful perspectives.
Recent contributors to the journal include David L. Cohen, chair of the board and CEO of Comcast Corporation; Robert H. Bork, Jr., attorney with international litigation practice at Kirkland & Ellis LLP; William J. McAleavy, partner with O’Brien & Ryan, LP, an insurance coverage firm; Richard W. Greenberg, preeminent practitioner in the field of complex commercial litigation and shareholder disputes; and John Patrick Riley II, leading insurance coverage litigator and founder of the Law Firm of John Patrick Riley II, LLC.
The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer has an editorial staff that boasts a 150-year history covering legal news. Every issue includes stakeholder opinions on the evolving landscape, including coverage of recent historic state- and federal-level decisions on Same-Sex Marriage, religious liberty, and abortion; analyses of recent coverage case decisions, including Traveler’s Indemnity Company v. CC Eastern, Inc.; an examination of the appellate-level decisions involving claims against general contractors; coverage of the most riveting insurance trials of the last year; and editorials addressing contemporaneous hot-button insurance coverage issues.
Contributors to the "Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility" section include Eryn Jones , recently elected chair of the Pennsylvania State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division, who recently argued for a cut-off of complicated insurance policies during property insurance mediation; Lawrence Degen and Haruto Lane, attorneys at the prominent California-based litigation firm McNicholas & McNicholas; Joseph Kalo, noted national commentator on appellate matters; Steven Wisotsky, prominent advocate for both legal ethics and the consideration of justice above all else; and Charles O. Monastra, prominent appellate attorney and leading commentator on judicial ethics.
Featured correspondent Jeffrey Jaggi, attorney and consultant with the national consultant firm Pemco, discusses the challenges for national insurers arising out of the unprecedented merger between the Aetna and Prudential insurance giants. Contributor Brian Baughan tags along for the ride to Federal District Court to argue an original jurisdictioned counterclaim on behalf of his construction client. Contributing editor Megan Schaefer, insurance coverage young gun, analyzes the rising complexity of providing medical treatment to traumatized combat veterans. And contributing editor William E. Lavery asks if the current trend for limiting insurance coverage to insureds’ "reasonable expectations" is really so good for everyone.

Interacting with the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer Community

The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer fosters an inclusive community that encourages engagement from its readers and the legal community at large. Whether you have insights to share, questions to ask, or simply wish to connect with other legal professionals, there are numerous ways to get involved.
Contribute to the Legal Discourse: The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer welcomes contributions from legal professionals, including articles, letters to the editor, and commentary pieces. If you have ideas or insights that you believe will be of interest to the publication’s readership, consider submitting them for consideration. This is a great opportunity to share your unique perspective and become part of the ongoing legal conversation in Philadelphia and beyond.
Stay Informed: The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer serves as a vital hub for legal news and information. By regularly checking the website and subscribing to the publication’s mailing list or social media channels, readers can stay informed about important legal issues affecting the region and the country.
Participate in Events and Forums: Throughout the year, the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer hosts or sponsors various events, webinars, and forums intended to foster dialogue and collaboration among legal professionals. Participating in these events is a great way to network with peers, stay updated on legal trends, and contribute to the legal discourse.
Engage on Social Media: Many readers may wish to engage with the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer community through social media. Whether it’s leaving a comment on one of the publication’s social media posts, joining in on a discussion, or simply following the publication for updates, social media provides a convenient platform for readers to connect with the publication and each other.
The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer is committed to building a strong community of legal professionals who are passionate about law and justice. Familiarize yourself with the various ways to engage with the publication and take advantage of the opportunities to connect with others in the legal field.

What’s Next: Future of the Practice

As the legal world continues to evolve, so too must the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer. The challenge for any legal publication is to balance the preservation of its core strengths with an agile responsiveness to new realities on the ground. The future of the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer appears bright, bolstered by a delivery model that integrates emerging technologies while enhancing community engagement and multidimensional interactions with readers, all while maintaining the quality of its deep institutional knowledge and unparalleled experience in covering the state’s legal industry.
To compete with your smartphone, which constantly provides news updates from your feeds, the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer plans to provide court, law firm and general news that is more concise and integrated within the daily environment to which you have become accustomed. The print incarnation will continue to flourish with in-depth news features that law firms use for client outreach and public relations while your smartphone and tablet will be used to receive information that is immediate and relevant , customized to your needs and at your fingertips and on the go.
There are also new areas for potential growth. The Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer already covers Pennsylvania’s business climate like a hawk, but it will now be expanding coverage to Delaware and South Jersey specifically around those courts including coverage of the Chancery Court in Delaware, where so many battles are fought between corporations. We’ll be looking at bankruptcy and other business courts in those regions as well, to meet the demand for coverage of these instant hotbeds of corporate litigation.
Whether it’s through the rapid, insightful coverage of breaking news or the well-reasoned, in-depth exploration of statewide issues that you expect of The Legal, you can count on the Philadelphia Legal Intelligencer to continue serving the legal community for decades to come.