The mission of the Law Office of Jeffrey L. Pollock, Esquire, is "to be respected as a professional, competent, prepared, and caring legal advocate both by clients and the lawyers who refer them to me. "I understand your problems; I care about them; and I enjoy solving them."

My goal is to create satisfied clients by providing sensitive counsel through the various components of the legal system. I make what could be an intimidating experience a positive one and as inexpensive as possible without jeopardizing the case. My accessibility and educational approach aims to remove an element of fear, create realistic expectations, and ultimately earn trust and confidence. I take pride in my ability to represent different ages and types of clients in various areas of problem prevention and conflict resolution (based on being a trained mediator) including, primarily criminal defense, juvenile and domestic law, as well as other litigation, business, estate planning and probate, collections, and entertainment law.

My mediation practice concentrates primarily in domestic law, but I take advantage of my negotiation and conciliation skills in all areas of my practice. When possible, my clients and I work as a team to settle issues without the stress of trial, the expense of unnecessary depositions or the unpredictability of court.

In the event of a client having limited resources, I can act as a "legal coach", advising them on an as-needed basis at a reduced fee. When necessary, I even customize my service to individual needs, such as making house calls.

I shall achieve my vision by employing these ethics and values: compassion, confidentiality, courtesy, dignity, excellence, integrity, justice, professionalism, and respect.

Simply put, Jeff Pollock (U. of Pennsylvania, B.A. '84; U. of Pittsburgh Law, J.D. '87) pledges his commitment to excellence and his dedication to client satisfaction, as follows:

In sum, I endeavor to provide cost-effective, efficient legal services delivered in a timely manner at a reasonable fee. I shall try my best to involve you in your case and communicate regularly and without delay. No attorney can promise a particular outcome to your case, but I will try diligently to make you satisfied with my service. I shall use my best efforts to resolve the issue; I became a lawyer to help people.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law and Divorce
• Criminal Defense
• Juvenile Law
• Entertainment Law
• Estate Planning and Probate
• Business, Commercial, and Contract Law
• Business Litigation
• Personal Injury Claims
• Unemployment Compensation
• Litigation, Mediation, and Collaborative Law

Litigation Percentage

• 80% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania, 1987
• U.S. District Court Western District of Pennsylvania, 1987
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1996

Education

• University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1987
  J.D.
  
  
• University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1984
  B.A. in Criminology (Wharton School of Finance)
  
  
• Universite de Compiegne, Compiegne, France, 1983
  
  

Published Works

• The ABCs of a Lawyer's Guide to Avoiding Malpractice
• The Criminal Trial From Start to Finish in PA, Natinal Business Institute, September, 2004
• Handling PA Divorce Cases, National Business Institute, October, 2003
• PA Residential and Commercial Landlord & Tenant Law, Sterling Education Services and National Business Institute, January, 2003
• "Young Lawyers' Guide to Ethics & Professionalism", PBA-YLD "AT ISSUE"
• "Young Lawyers' Guide to Ethics & Professionalism", Juris Magazine

Representative Clients

• Alpha Data Communications, Inc.
• Hope Real Estate
• Blehmadoo's African Marketplace
• Sports Massage Team, USA, Inc.
• Cardco
• Teletech, Inc.
• Alternative Computer Systems, Inc.
• Regent Square Tavern
• Zell Investments, Inc.
• Equity Home Consultants, Inc.
• Design Landscape Service
• Mohammed's Mosque
• AAuto Motor Exchange Co.
• Actors' Casting, Network, Ltd.
• Keal Cinema, Inc.
• Dreamcatchers, Inc.
• If! Productions
• Hummbugg Entertainment
• CAVU Productions, Inc.
• Hitchcock Hiker Productions
• Western School

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Lecturer and Adviser, "Fatherhood Initiative", Hosanna House, 2003 - Present
• "Preparing for a Custody Trial", NCFC 2002 Convention, 2002
• "Criminal Justice" Course, The Minor Judiciary in PA - Point Park College, 2003
• Landlord & Tenant Law and Ethical Issues, SES and NBI - PA, 2003
• Family Law Roundtable, Neighborhood Legal Services Assn.
• "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Leave Pittsburgh", RODEF Shalom, 1999
• "Nuts & Bolts of Living Wills/Powers of Atty.", Jewish Community Center, 1999
• "The Basics of Landlord and Tenant Law", Carnegie Library, 1999
• "Wills, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney", Beth Shalom Synagogue, 1999
• "3 Weeks of Constitutional Law", Taylor Allderdice High School, 1999
• "5 Days of Criminal Law Primer", Taylor Allderdice High School, 1998
• "Single Father Custody Concerns", PITT Community outreach, 1997
• "Law Career Awareness", Fox Chapel Middle School, 1996
• "Law Careers and Their Preparation", Greenway Middle School, 1995
• "Criminal Law Careers and Their Preparation", Fox Chapel High School, 1993
• "Elderly Parent Concerns", Prudential Employees, 1992
• "Bad Debts", The Signature Group, 1992
• "Choosing a Business Entity", The Signature Group, 1992
• "Wills and Trusts", The Signature Group, 1992

Honors and Awards

• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, One of Pittsburgh's "50 Finest", 2004
• Honoree, Jefferson Award for "Community Champion", 2003
• ABA Local Affiliate Award for Member Services, (1st Place), 1997
• ABA Local Affiliate Award for Public Service (1st Place), 1995
• Michael K. Smith Award for "Excellence in Service to the Public," Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1999
• U.S. Supreme Court Achieving Induction, 1996
• JCC Presidential Citation, 1992
• Approved by Stanton Wettick as a Special Arbitrator (especially for Landlord, Tenant), 1995 - 1998
• Approved as Equitable Distribution and partical Custody Master, 1991

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania (CLASP), 2006 - Present
  Co-Founder and Secretary
  
  
• Mediation Council of Western Pennsylvania, 1997 - 2006
  Former Board of Directors
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2004 - 2007
  Appointed/Elected to Council of Family Law Section
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1992 - 2002
  Bench-Bar Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1999 - 2002
  Judiciary Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1994 - 1999
  Board of Governors
  
  
• United Jewish Federation, 2005
  Chair, Supreme Court Nominee Task Force (Winner of National Grant)
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1993 - 1998
  Member, Speaker's Bureau
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1995 - 1998
  Nominating Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association (1995- 1996 & 1997 - 1998)
  Chair, Young Lawyers Division (only twice-elected Chair)
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1998
  Ad Hoc Public Relations Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1996 - 1997
  Finance Committee's Pro Bono Subcommittee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1997
  Planning Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, Family Division, 1995 - 1996
  Partial Custody Master; Special Arbitrator for Compulsory Arbitration
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1989 - 1995
  Performer, Players Section
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, Judge Baer's Middle School Peer Court Program, Innaugural Defense Supervisor, 1995
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1993
  Secretary, Young Lawyers Division
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1991 - 1992
  Chair, Young Lawyers' Section, Member Services Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1992
  Public Relations Chair, Legislative Subcommittee
  
  
• Commonwealth Business Exchange-East Networking Group, 1991
  President
  
  
• Commonwealth Business Exchange-East Networking Group, 1990
  Vice President
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1990 - 1992
  Indigent Divorce Program Restructuring Committee
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, Inns of Court, 1990
  Innaugural Member
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1995 - 1997
  Founder, Common Pleas Court Judges' Manual
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association, 1993 - 1995
  Board of Directors, Solo & Small Firm Section
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association
  Environmental Law, Real Estate & Arts and the Law Committees' Liaison
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association
  Tel-Law Script Reviewer, Ongoing
  
  
• Pennsylvania Bar Association, 1996
  Delegate, Zone 12
  
  
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
  Former Member, Membership and Entertainment Law Committees
  
  
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
  Former Juror, High School Mock Trial Competition
  
  
• United Jewish Federation, 1988 - 1991
  Newcomers'/Outreach Program Creator/Chairman
  
  
• Pennsylvania Bar Institute, NBI, and SES
  CLE Seminar Writer/Speaker/Participant/Performer
  
  
• Allegheny County Bar Association
  Softball Champion (Left Fielder): '89, '94-98, '01-05
  
  
• JCC Singles
  Co-Founder/President, Party Emcee, Responsible for Programming
  
  
• JCC Theatre, 1994 - 1997
  Chair
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• Founding Partner, Pollock & Morella, P.C., 1991 - 1992
• Law Firm of Feldstein, Grinberg, Stein & McKee, Associate, 1987 - 1989
• Rosenzweig & Burton, Summer Associate, 1986
• United States Attorney's Office, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Law Student Internship - Appellate Special Prosecutions Division, 1986
• Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, Family Division, Law Clerk, Honorable Lawrence W. Kaplan, 1985
• Career Criminals Selective Prosecution Advisory Committee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Division, Research Coder, 1984
• Pitt Law Chronicle, University of Pittsburgh, Writer, 1984
• Legal Studies Marketing Internship, 1982

Pro Bono Activities

• Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, Family Division: Volunteer, Indigent Divorce Program
• Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, Family Division: Volunteer, Pro Se Motions Project Panel
• Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, Family Division: Past Co-Mediator, Generations Custody Program
• Allegheny County Bar Foundation: Volunteer of NLSA and Hill House Family Law Clinics
• Project Challenge/NLSA/Legal Aid Society of Pittsburgh, Volunteer
• ProArts: Volunteer Lawyer for "Starving Artists"
• YWCA: 2nd Saturday Classes and CLE Speaker/Writer - Domestic Relations & Mediation
• "Greenfield Grapevine": Past "Ask the Lawyer" and "Legal Briefs" Columnist
• Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Golf Fundraiser Chair, 2001 - 2005
• Allegheny County Bar Association: Appointed Chair, Lawyer Referral Service, Disaster Relief Referral Panels, 2000 - 2003
• United Jewish Federation: Community Relations Committee/CPAC (incl. Black-Jewish Dialogue), 2000 - 2007
• 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
• United Way: Day of Caring Former Program Coordinator and Participant
• Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition: Volunteer and Citizen's Patrol Former Driver
• Rodef Shalom Temple: Mitzvah Day Participant, Brotherhood Board Member, Congregation Follies Chair/Director
• Open Stage Theatre: Former Board of Directors
• Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank: Ongoing Volunteer
• Regular Blood Donor
• Committed Trash Recycler
• Shady Side Academy - Class Agent and Alumni Counsel Member
• St. Edmund's Academy - Class Agent and Alumni Counsel Member
• Better Business Bureau: Approved as Member in 2005
• University of Pennsylvania's Former ZBT Executive Officer

Ancillary Businesses

• Co-Founder, Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania
• Of Counsel to Frank, Bails, Murcko, Gubinsky & Gale, P.C.

Languages

• French

Birth Information

• June 12, 1962, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America