NOTE: Your membership category is determined by the year you joined the Inn and does not change during your term of membership

The Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court brings together a cross-section of judges and lawyers interested in the field of intellectual property (patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets) and in furthering the goals of the American Inns of Court.

The Inn members are classified as follows:

  • Masters of the Bench,(aka Masters or Benchers) are Judges, experienced lawyers, and law professors who graduated from law school at least 15 years ago.
  • Barristers, lawyers, and law professors who graduated from law school 4 to 14 years ago.
  • Associates, lawyers, and law professors who graduated from law school less than 4 years ago; and
  • Pupils/Students, including law students with an interest in intellectual property law may apply or be nominated during their third year.
  • Honorary Members, Judges or lawyers may be designated honorary member of our Inn on the basis of long, distinguished service to the bench or bar. Any Inn member may submit a nomination for an honorary member, which is then voted upon by the Inn's Executive Committee.

The members are grouped into six teams that represent a cross section of Los Angeles' legal community.  Each team includes at least one judge, two senior attorneys, two mid-career attorneys, two relatively new attorneys and one or two law students.  Each Team is responsible for presenting an educational program to the other Inn members and invited guests.  The program is developed at meetings among team members and includes a "skit" that presents a factual situation with legal advocate characters on each side.  A panel discussion follows that is facilitated by the team's program moderator.  The panel discussion generally includes a review of current law pertaining to the factual situation.  All Inn members are encouraged to participate in the panel discussion.  Each Inn member is involved in conducting one program a year for the Inn.

If you are interested in becoming a Member of The Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court, or wish to nominate someone as a Member, please contact Vern Schooley at (310) 824-5555 (vschooley@fulpat.com), or any Officer or Executive Committee member.

V. Monica Mandel, Executive Director
Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
c/o FULWIDER PATTON LLP
6060 Center Drive, Tenth Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Email - mmandel@fulpat.com

(please include subject heading "Paul R. Michel IP Membership")
Telephone: (310) 242-2715
Facsimile:    (310) 824-9696