About the Richard T. Oakes Inn of Court 

The Richard T. Oakes American Inn of Court is a part of the American Inns of Court Foundation with over 300 Inns throughout the country. American Inns of Court (AIC) are designed to improve the skills, professionalism, and ethics of the bench and bar.

The Inn meets approximately once a month both to "break bread" and hold programs and discussions on improving the legal profession, usually for one CLE credit. Membership is designed to have a balance of judges and lawyers from different experience levels who work with each other and third-year law students in order to provide mentoring and professional support. It is a great opportunity to network, learn more about our professionalism, and make close friendships with lawyers and judges through an informal setting.

About Richard T. Oakes

This Inn has been named in honor of Richard T. Oakes, founding dean of Hamline University School of Law. Dean Oakes passionately shared these ideals and devoted most of his professional life to improving legal education. He believed that legal education must include practical experiences through clinical programs along with guidance from experienced practitioners.

The Richard T. Oakes Inn of Court would not have been possible without the dual support of Hamline University School of Law and Street Legal Motorcycle Club (R), an organization of motorcycle-enthusiast legal professionals. Dean Oakes, an avid rider, was a founding member of Street Legal, which regularly holds CLEs in Sturgis, South Dakota.