Braveman for Judge

Experience

After clerking for two Common Pleas Judges, Will spent 12 years as an Assistant and Deputy City Solicitor in the City of Philadelphia’s Law Department. During that time, and in the 12 years of private practice thereafter, Will has handled thousands of case trials or hearings to verdict or settlement. He lectures on a regular basis on topics including Labor Law, Employment Law, and Mental Health Law.

Integrity

Experience

Will spent the first 14 years of his career as a public servant. As a Solicitor, he served in the Health and Human Services Unit, handling Child Welfare and Mental Health cases. He also served in the City’s Labor and Employment Unit, representing every city agency. For the last 12 years, Will has been designated counsel for a Union and a court-appointed counsel for thousands of patients in Mental Health Court proceedings. Throughout his career, Will has prioritized community volunteer work and youth sports coaching. He is a 15-time First Judicial District Pro Bono Award recipient.

Equity

Experience

Equity

Whether serving as an employee side union attorney, child welfare attorney, or mental health court advocate, Will has dedicated his career to public service and equity regardless of race, religion, gender, gender orientation, sexual orientation, disability, age, or national origin. As a mental health advocate and an employment discrimination attorney, making justice and fairness accessible to all has been one of his primary objectives.

Will Supports...

Prevention of Bias and Discrimination

He has always sought to recognize and limit the impact of bias on court proceedings and the administration of justice. He started an anti-discrimination task force and continues to advocate for discrimination victims' rights to have diverse juries of their peers in all courts. Will is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and he presently serves on the Chancellor’s DEI Discussion Group of the Philadelphia Bar Association.

Promotion of Diversionary Programs In Criminal Proceedings

For non-violent criminals with underlying issues such as drug addictions or mental health illnesses, he believes that they should receive the treatment that they require and not just be relegated to prison.

Protection of Philadelphians from Gun Violence and Violent Crime

He believes that Philadelphians and their families and children deserve to live in the comfort of safe environments. To that end, it is critical to keep violent criminals and guns off of the streets so that our City is a place where people can feel safe.

Recognition of the Problems in the Existing Cash Bail System

He believes that the present system often criminalizes poverty by unnecessarily holding non-violent criminals in jails simply because they are unable to make cash bail.

Support of Re-entry Programs for Ex-Offenders

As an employment attorney, Will has seen many clients stigmatized by criminal records, even when they could be productive workforce members. Will believes that people with criminal records should be able to find jobs, housing, and opportunities to turn their lives around for themselves and their families.

Empowerment of Children with Life Skills Training

In addition to 20 years of soccer coaching and public school mock trial team coaching, Will started a Debate Club in Northwest Philadelphia. He regularly meets with Kindergarten—8th Grade children. He runs them through speech and communication exercises, hoping these skills will help them in whatever they choose to do in school and after they graduate. He is in the process of building this model out and growing the program.

volunteer service

Legal Volunteer Work

Support Center for Child Advocates

15-time First Judicial District Pro Bono Award Recipient

Employment Anti-Discrimination Taskforce Co-Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association

Board Of Governors, Philadelphia Bar Association

Lawyer Referral Information Service Co-Chair, Philadelphia Bar Association

Legal Line, Philadelphia Bar Association

Temple Legal Aid

Volunteers for the Indigent Program

Election Day Attorney Monitor

Community/Civic Volunteer Work

AFSCME DC 33 Local 696

Chancellor’s DEI Discussion Group

Debate Club

Caton House

Daniel B. Allanoff Foundation

R.W. Brown Community Center

Law Education and Participation

Feltonville Resources Fair

Committee of 70

Jewish Relief Agency

Lutheran Settlement House

Chosen 300 Ministries

Covenant House

NYU Catholic Center Soup Kitchen

William Way LGBT Community Center

Philadelphia Cares

Student Public Interest Network

Save the Sam Eric Committee

Rendell for Mayor

AIDS Task Force

Women in Need

Magee Rehabilitation Center

Youth Coaching

Palumbo Youth Soccer

Fairmount Youth Soccer

Taney Youth Baseball Association

South Philadelphia High Mock Trial Team

About Will

Will was born and raised in Philadelphia and graduated from Temple Law School in 1994. He lives in South Philadelphia with his wife. They raised their sons, who graduated from Central and Science Leadership Academy and now attend Temple and Penn State.

Will has coached multiple youth soccer and baseball teams in Philadelphia and founded the Palumbo Recreation Center intramural soccer program.

For 20 years, Will was a part-time DJ and recording artist as a second job to pay down his student debt. While a DJ on his college radio station, he became the first DJ to play Queen Latifah and Gang Starr on the radio, both of whom he interviewed live. He was also a reporter and interviewer for his radio station program guide and The Source, the first serious hip-hop journalism magazine, in its earliest 1988 days.

Will performed at Philadelphia venues such as Silk City, the Trocadero, and the Electric Factory. He opened for acts such as The Roots, George Clinton, Jay Z, and Erykah Badu.