Why Join Us?

You will find that the Inn's programs and benefits differ from typical networking or CLE. The Inn strives to meet needs of the profession in the Estate, Probate, and Trust area on a number of fronts.

Learning in Context

Law schools are great at teaching aspiring attorneys how to identify issues, read with an analytical mind, and begin the journey of refining one’s advocacy, but are limited by what is good pedagogy and what effectively teaches the subject matter.

The Inn has the benefit of being able to address problems within the larger context of practice, as its members already possess a baseline of knowledge in this area and can address current developments or delve deeper into a topic impacting current practitioners.

Additionally, for law students, showing early interest in a particular area helps you develop relationships early and can help you determine if this area is where you want to specialize.

Ethics and Collegiality

Lawyers can become unhappy with the profession and/or their jobs, and many lawyers and non-lawyers alike question whether professionalism and ethical standards are high enough.  The Inn provides a collegial setting to consider such problems, to meet and get to know others in the profession and their particular practice focuses, and to get a better sense of the developments surrounding the legal field and practioners.

Civility

Civility between opposing lawyers is important to the profession, but isn't always present. It looks bad on the professionals and to the wider public if there is a needless baseline of hostility in an arena where problem-solving, practicality, and advocacy should be the priority. The Inn provides an opportunity to deal with issues encountered in practice, promote best practicces, and to build and maintain relationships outside the work environment that will aid in interactions throughout practitioners’ careers.

Skills

Building skills and growing knowledge bases is challenging and necessary even for expericenced practioners. Further, for younger practioner’s, it is in your interest and the interest of your future clients and you grow in this area efficently and with integrity. The meetings allow for more education and relationships established through the Inn afford opportunities for mentorship to ensure the next generation of practioners will be ready to advance the area of law.

Mentoring

How It Works

At the beginning of every Inn year, members are assigned to one of six pupillage teams. Each team is comprised of members from each membership category and includes at least one judge. Pupillage teams are responsible for creating and presenting one program during the Inn year. Teams sit together at dinner and team leaders are charged with organizing at least two pupillage team get-togethers per year. Informal mentoring takes place within the context of each pupillage team.

Additionally, any members who are interested can be paired with a mentee or a mentor. Members indicate their interest in either role (or both) on the end-of-year membership satisfaction survey, and new members are asked upon acceptance if they would like to participate.