Program Development

Each pupillage team delivers a 75-minute CLE at a monthly Inn meeting. Co-chairs lead topic selection, research, and prep. About one-third of programs target litigation skills; the rest cover litigation-related issues of general interest. Topics due to program chairs by October 1. Teams often host a social to brainstorm.

For example, programs in recent Inn years have included:

• Technology and the Changing Nature of the Practice of Law
• Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations in Running for Office
• The Legality and Ethics of Assisted Suicide
• The U.S. Immigration System: Design, Priorities, and Challenges
• Predicting the Future of Trial Practice from Historical Trends
• Best (and Worst) Practices in Witness Preparation and Presentation
• Guantanamo: A First-Hand View of U.S. Terrorist Detention Policy
• Gun Control versus Open Carry
• Effective Strategies for Jury Selection
• Compliance Programs, Prosecutorial Discretion, and Corporate Malfeasance
• Keeping the Jury Interested with Exhibits and Demonstratives
• The Magna Carta

Programs typically feature multiple short segments plus Q&A. All members help plan; not all must present. Skits/scripted entertainment are discouraged. Guest speakers may supplement, not replace, the team’s presentation.

Mentoring

Pupillage teams connect members with experienced judges and attorneys, fostering lasting one-on-one mentoring. Formal mentoring includes the free, monthly Larry York Mentoring Lunches (with Austin-area Inns), featuring judges and senior practitioners on professional growth.

Ensuring an Exceptional Experience

The Lochridge Inn consistently earns Platinum certification under the American Inns of Court Achieving Excellence program (since 2016–17). Leadership gathers personal, one-to-one feedback from every member—rather than form surveys—to drive continuous improvement. Members can view 2021 results here.