Daniel J. Siegel graduated with honors in Government in 1981 from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, yet another product of the Sid Wise legacy. As a freshman in the fall of 1977, Dan did not have a grasp on his future. What he did have was a schedule that included a lab science that was primarily for pre-medical school students. Dan knew that course wasn’t for him, so he went to see his pre-assigned freshman advisor, Sidney Wise. Dan explained that he needed to get out of the science course, and eventually Professor Wise agreed. More significantly, before Dan left Professor Wise’s office, he had become a member of the staff of The College Reporter, F&M’s weekly student-run newspaper. And Dan’s life was about to change even more.
When Dan graduated from F&M, he was a “stringer,” i.e., a part-time writer for Lancaster’s morning newspaper, The Intelligencer Journal, and had honed his writing skills even more. Dan then enrolled and graduated from Temple University School of Law in 1984 and set out on a career as a lawyer. Dan is now known for his writing skills, and is fortunate to serve as counsel on many successful appeals, primarily in the areas of personal injury and workers’ compensation litigation. In 2005, Dan opened his own law firm and a technology consulting firm for lawyers, both in Havertown (Delaware County, Pennsylvania), where he has served since 2008 as a Haverford Township Commissioner.
As a Haverford Township Commissioner, Dan has developed a reputation as a bipartisan official who works well with his colleagues, regardless of party affiliation; in other words, Dan aspires to be the type of elected official who tries to do what is right, not what is politically expedient. In other words, Dan is yet another Sid Wise legacy. He has been credited with creating a remarkable level of transparency in local government.
Dan has written numerous books, including How to Do More in Less Time: The Complete Guide to Increasing Your Productivity and Improving Your Bottom Line; Checklists for Lawyers; Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Law: The Basics – A Primer for New Lawyers, General Practitioners & Others (now in its second edition); Android Apps in One Hour for Lawyers; and, Changing Law Firms: Ethical Guidance for Pennsylvania Law Firms and Attorneys (soon to be in its second edition). Dan is also a frequent writer and lecturer on a wide range of topics, but he is of course most passionate about The Wise Legacy.
Dan is married to Eileen Watts Siegel, who is Chair of the English Department at Kohelet Yeshiva High School in Merion, Pennsylvania. He has two sons, Bradley, a woodworker and product designer, and Douglas, who is currently a student at Franklin and Marshall College. Douglas’ middle name, Steven, was chosen in memory of Sid Wise.
Visit Dan Siegel's law firm website, or his technology consulting firm's website.