Welcome to the George C. Young American Inn of Court. We are part of the American Inns of Court and share its mission to “advance the rule of law by achieving the highest level of professionalism through example, education, and mentoring.” We are one Inn among more than 400 chartered Inns, organized in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Tokyo, serving some 30,000 members. Each Inn shares a common vision of a “legal profession and judiciary dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility and excellence.”
Our Inn was founded in 1990 and has flourished since then. We owe much to our founding members and especially to The Honorable George C. Young, our Inn’s namesake. Our members come from all areas of practice and include some of the best and most respected lawyers and judges in the state.
One of the primary purposes of our Inn is to provide opportunities for aspiring young lawyers to learn from judges and experienced lawyers in a social setting. One way that we do that is through our monthly meetings. Each year, members are divided into pupillage groups, with each group consisting of members with different levels of experience. Each pupillage group is responsible for conducting a program at one of the monthly meetings. The topics of the programs vary, but usually focus on ethical considerations, civility, and excellence in practice. Each monthly meeting includes a social hour, followed by dinner and the program. This format is an excellent way for the members of the Inn to learn from one another.
In addition to our monthly programs, Inn members participate in community-based projects. Over the years, our community-based projects have focused on a variety of topics, including domestic violence and elder law. In 2014, our Inn received the Best Special Project Award for our mock trial program at Howard Middle School.
Our Inn is regularly recognized as an one of the elite Inns in the country. Every year, the American Inns of Court identifies those Inns that have excelled in promoting a culture of professionalism, ethics, civility and skill in the legal and public community. The highest level of distinction is the Platinum level. To reach that level, an Inn must master effective practices in each of the five core competencies of Inn management: Administration, Communications, Program Development, Mentoring and Outreach Activities. I am pleased to report that our Inn has been awarded Platinum Status every year since 2011.
I am honored to serve as President of the Inn, and I look forward to another great year!
Roger B. Handberg
President, 2021-23