Perfect Together - Elaine Lippe And Philly Lawyers

The Philadelphia Bar Association was in a jam.

It was 1985 and America was booming.

In Philadelphia, development finally began on the construction of Liberty Place, the first in a series of new skyscrapers that would end City Hall’s long reign as the tallest structure in town. And Philadelphia law firms were growing rapidly and starting to move west and north of their traditional corridor as they sought a piece of the burgeoning new business district that was to define the future of the city.

For the Philadelphia Bar Association there really was no choice: Keep up with the boom or perish. In the association’s communication department our functions increased and diversified and our staff grew. 

But a key component was missing: We needed a top-notch administrative assistant who could serve not just the communication department but also the executive director and the Chancellor and leadership of the association.

We needed someone who was mature, quick, well-rounded, accurate and able to handle a multitude of tasks calmly and efficiently.

That’s where Elaine Lippe came in. She was recommended to us by a fellow staffer  who knew her and trusted her implicitly.

And right from the start, Elaine made herself virtually indispensable.

Elaine was trained the old-fashioned way -- with a pencil and a notebook and a typewriter. She could take dictation, correct grammar and spelling errors, construct or reconstruct paragraphs, collect and relay phone messages and even make airline, hotel and dinner reservations. But she could also unjam a copier, expedite a fax and later send out a blast e-mail, format a news release for electronic distribution or change the type style and point size on a speech so that the Chancellor could see the words clearly read them aloud.

Elaine proved to be remarkably adaptable and versatile.

Sometimes she was called upon to do these things with very little notice. And many times she was simply asked to jump in and take on tasks and assignments that might frustrate someone else.

She did it all -- and more.

As the year’s went on, Elaine’s judgment was increasingly valued as was her loyalty to the association and its leadership. When younger staffers frequently looked to her for guidance and support, she did not fail them. When bar leaders sought her unvarnished judgment, she did not flinch.

Elaine Lippe became a member of the professional family that Philadelphia lawyers counted as their own.

But Elaine has always had her own family: Her three children and two grandchildren of whom she is most proud. And she takes pride and delight in all of them and shares all that with us.

At the same time, Elaine retains a multitude of other interests. A proud, native Philadelphian, she’s an avid fan of the Philadelphia Orchestra and local cultural and entertainment venues. She’s also a voracious reader, a well-informed citizen and an  enthusiastic traveler who enjoys destinations that range from the seemingly frivolous (Las Vegas) to the deeply meaningful (Israel). 

Elaine is also a frequent visitor to Manhattan where she enjoys the Broadway stage, art galleries and museums and a taste of the Big Apple at venues such as The Boathouse at Central Park. But she’s equally at home in the Reading Terminal Market.

In fact, you can place Elaine just about anywhere (even in an otherwise dreary work setting) and she’ll fine a way to make it lively and fun.

Which is to say that Elaine Lippe is a great lover of life. No matter where she is or what she’s doing, she soaks up every moment and her zest for living is contagious.

That’s why the Philadelphia Bar Association and its members and staff are going to miss Elaine Lippe now that she’s decided to retire after nearly three decades on the job. Elaine, who resides near Plymouth Meeting is looking forward to a new chapter in her life.

But, not to worry. Elaine’s not leaving the Philadelphia region. And she’ll still be coming into the center city regularly to enjoy all that it has to offer.

So, if you see her around, be sure to say hello. And thank her for all of us.

She’s a rare gem and one of the people who’s made the Philadelphia Bar Association what it is today.

Cent anni, Elaine!
This originally appeared in the Philadelphia Bar Association's Bar Reporter newspaper, It is reprinted here with permission.