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Kristen B. Hamilton, a 2005 graduate of Widener University Commonwealth Law School, has been sworn in as the 131st president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, also known as the PBA. She is the youngest female president in the association’s history and only the eighth woman to hold the position.

Hamilton, who practices family and juvenile law at the Law Office of Matthew S. Militello in Chambersburg, officially took office during the PBA’s annual meeting in May. She walked into the House of Delegates meeting to the Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These,” as colleagues held sunflowers to mark the theme of her presidency. Sunflowers, Hamilton explained, always turn toward the sun, and when they can’t find it, they turn toward each other. “That’s what lawyers should do, too,” she said.

From Juvenile Corrections to Law School
Before law school, Hamilton worked as a senior treatment clinical supervisor at the Abraxas Youth Center, where she witnessed firsthand how children struggled to navigate the juvenile justice system. “It’s easier to heal hurt children than fix broken adults,” she said. “I wanted so badly to be a conduit for change.” Her work inspired her to pursue law, believing she could better serve juveniles as their advocate in court.

Her path to Widener Law Commonwealth was shaped by practical needs. She commuted more than two hours a day while working to pay her bills, choosing a program that allowed her to balance school with her responsibilities. “Widener gave me the chance to be a law student on my terms,” Hamilton said. “It allowed me to gain an education while maintaining the life I had already built.”

At Widener, she found formative experiences in the clinic program. One case involved helping a mother with breast cancer secure guardianship for her son with disabilities. “It showed me the real impact a lawyer could have beyond what’s written in the books,” Hamilton said.

A Career Built on Advocacy
After graduating, Hamilton’s career centered on children and families. She represents clients in family law, delinquency, and dependency cases, as well as criminal matters including capital defense. She now serves as Franklin County’s juvenile court hearing officer.

Hamilton is deeply involved in the legal community. She is a past co-chair of the Bar Leadership Institute, co–vice chair of the PBA Planning Committee, the PBA Children’s Rights Committee, Commission on Women in the Profession, and Minority Bar committees. She is also a delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. Locally, she has served as president of the Franklin County Bar Association and continues to hold leadership roles in several county and court-appointed committees.

Breaking Barriers for Women in Law
Hamilton is the second Widener Law Commonwealth graduate to lead the PBA, following Sharon Lopez, who became the first Latinx president in 2017. “It’s always a great honor and a responsibility when the baton is handed to you by such a long line of amazing women leaders,” Hamilton said. “They showed me that bringing a distinct perspective to the table is a strength, not a liability.”

Although women have made gains in legal leadership, Hamilton notes that challenges remain. “Despite it being 2025, it is still ridiculous that I am often mistaken for something other than the attorney, particularly in criminal cases,” she said. Her hope is that one day the qualifier “female president” will no longer be necessary. “It will simply be President of the PBA,” she said.

Hamilton has set three top priorities for her term: expanding civic education, addressing legal deserts in rural Pennsylvania, and renewing pride in the profession. She wants young people to learn about the nation’s legal system before they encounter it in court, and she hopes to encourage new graduates to consider building practices in underserved communities.

Just as importantly, she wants lawyers to rediscover their passion. She recalls sending her father an email on her first day of practice, filled with excitement at becoming “a real lawyer.” That pride, she said, is something worth holding onto.

Her message to current law students is clear: start building your network early. “Find your people,” she said. “The classroom teaches you the law, but the clinic and the bar show you the impact you can have.”

The Importance of Connection
For Hamilton, one of the most important lessons she shares with young lawyers is the value of showing up. She stresses that in-person bar association events are where real connections are made. “I leave every event inspired, and I never walk away without at least two new connections,” she said. 

Vision for Her Presidency
Among her favorites are the Conference of County Bar Leaders, Committee/Section Day and the PBA Midyear Meeting, both of which bring together attorneys from across the state and beyond. For students, she especially recommends the Young Lawyers Division Summer Summit. “Look to your left and look to your right,” she tells new attendees. “The people sitting beside you may become the colleagues, mentors, and lifelong friends who keep you grounded in this profession.” 

For Hamilton, those relationships have carried her through personal loss and professional challenges, and she believes they are the foundation of a successful career in law.