Lycoming County Admits Nine New Lawyers

On December 4, 2015, the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas held a special session of court at which nine attorneys were admitted to practice before the “several Courts of the County of Lycoming.” Judges Nancy Butts, Richard Gray, Joy McCoy and Marc Lovecchio presided over the admission ceremony.

Each of the new attorneys, Greta Davis, Dance Fairfield Drier, Beau A. Hoffman, Brittany Lynne Smith, Brittany Ocie Louise Smith, James D. Smith, Ravi Marfatia, Thomas E. Robins, and Matthew Welickovitch, was moved for admission by a current member of the bar, who outlined the admittees' background and qualifications.

Although admission to practice before the local Court is no longer required by law, Lycoming County has continued the tradition of an admission ceremony. The ceremony serves several purposes: to formally recognize the accomplishments of the newly admitted attorneys, to introduce the new faces of the bar to the legal community and to allow the Judges and Law Association officers the opportunity to introduce new attorneys to the services available to them through the Association and to offer opportunities to serve the community, as attorneys.

Dance Fairfield Drier was moved by Marc Salo Drier; Beau A. Hoffman was presented by motion of Brian J. Bluth; Brittany Lynne Smith and Brittany Ocie Louise Smith were moved by Jennifer E. Linn; James D. Smith was presented by motion of Christian D. Frey; Thomas E. Robins was moved by Michael H. Collins; and Ravi Marfatia, Matthew Welickovitch and Greta Davis were moved by Joshua Bower.

After the individual petitions were presented, Prothonotary Suzanne M. Fedele administered the oath.

Each of the new attorneys was welcomed to the bar by the judges and by LLA President Tammy Weber, who also presented the attorney with the LLA history volume Historical Sketches of the Bench and Bar of Lycoming County. Young Lawyers division chair Corey Mowrey encouraged the new members to become active in the division, and also to participate in the American Inns of Court. John Pietrovito spoke on the importance of providing pro bono service to the poor of Lycoming County.

All were invited to a reception held at The Old Corner that followed immediately after the court session.