Topic Selection

Topics are selected by a Committee.   Anything relevant to family law is open for assignment.  Topics may range from Ethics; Preparing for a Custody Trial; Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements; to Primer on Paternity and Child Support

Teams/Pupilage Groups:

Pupilage groups are composed of:

Advisor-   who usually is a senior lawyer, and whose job it is to be a guide for the team;

Team Leader- whose job it is to organize the team and focus the members, arrange the planning meetings for the team       presentation, and organize the materials for the presentation;

Court Leader - usually a Judge or a Master, who will provide input and a view from the bench, and participate in the presentation;

Team Members-   attorney members of the Inn

Each member of the team must have a part in the presentation, whether in the performance, writing, research or any combination. 

Meeting Format

Each meeting follows a similar format. Dinner is served at 6:00 PM, followed by introductory remarks by the President.  The CLE program begins promptly at 6:30PM. The meeting concludes at 7:30 PM. It is recommended that members arrive between 5:30 PM and 6:00 PM to give them an opportunity to visit and network with colleagues. 

At the conclusion of the program year, the Inn holds an annual banquet.  All members in good standing are invited to attend the banquet.  Guests may not be invited to the annual banquet. There is no CLE presentation at the banquet, and awards are given out for various categories including best presentation.

Continuing Legal Education (CLE)     

Members of the Inn are entitled to receive continuing legal education credits for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for their attendance at meetings. Each meeting incorporates a 1 hour CLE that is planned, prepared and presented by one of the pupilage groups, and covers one of the pre-selected topics.