For the current by-laws of the Temple American Inn of Court,
please see here.
Temple Inn Meetings
Regular meetings of the Inn are called by the Executive
Committee at least six (6) times a year and are usually held on a
regularly scheduled day of each month. The main theme and
subject matter of the regular meetings shall be the improvement of
the practical legal skills of the membership with emphasis on legal
ethics, civility, professionalism and overall excellence in
lawyers. The membership is divided into Pupilage teams
comprised of Masters, Barristers, Associates and Law Students who
prepare and present to the membership at each meeting a Program
which demonstrates and explains the principles, skills, techniques
and relationships involved in the courtroom and in activities
preliminary to courtroom appearances. These Programs and the
critique and questioning from the members are all designed to
assist members in better discharging their duties to clients and
society.
Temple Inn Membership
Membership in the Temple American Inn of Court is limited to no
more than one hundred twenty-five (125) members.
Membership in the Inn shall be for one (1) year terms, which may be
renewed by invitation. Active membership is divided into six
(6) classifications:
Masters: Include up to
fifty-five (55) Judges, lawyers, and law school educators with a
minimum of sixteen (16) years trial or appellate experience and who
have demonstrated superior character, ability and competence as
trial or appellate advocates. At least twenty (20) Active
Masters shall be practicing lawyers.
Masters Emeritus: May be conferred
by the Executive Committee upon active Masters on the basis of long
and distinguished service to the Inn. Emeritus Masters shall
be under no obligation to pay dues, attend meetings or participate
in other programs of the Inn but shall enjoy all privileges of
Active Membership except the right to vote. Such status shall
be for the life of the member if so desired. The roster of
Emeritus Members shall not count against the target membership
number of the Inn. Any person granted Emeritus status as a
Master may again be invited to serve in an active capacity.
Barristers:
Include up to thirty-five (35) lawyers who have been members of the
Bar for at least six (6) and no more than fifteen (15) years and
who have demonstrated good character and a desire to improve and
refine their skills as trial and appellate advocates.
Associates: Include up to
twenty-five (25) recent law school graduates who have been admitted
to the practice of law for no more than five (5) years.
Pupils: Include up to ten (10)
students in their final year of law school at Temple University
James E. Beasley School of Law and shall be for one (1) year.
Alumni: May be conferred by the Executive
Committee upon an individual who has been a Master of the Inn for
ten (10) consecutive years. Alumni members will have the
option, but not the requirement, to attend Inn meetings and
functions. Alumni members are not required to participate on a
Pupilage Team or Special Committee; however they may do so upon
request. The roster of Alumni members shall not count against the
numerical limits of other active Temple American Inn of Court
members as specified in the By-Laws.
Membership is open to all qualified individuals. Our
Chapter's members are drawn from Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks,
Delaware, and Chester counties. The membership reflects the
rich diversity of the bench and bar in this area and includes
attorneys who represent Plaintiffs and Defendants in civil cases,
prosecutors and criminal defense counsel, State and Federal court
practitioners, trial and appellate counsel, solo practitioners,
members of large and small firms, government lawyers, corporate
counsel, law professors and Judges.
Selection of Temple Inn Members
At the conclusion of each year, the Membership Committee shall
make recommendations to the Executive Committee with respect to the
membership in the Inn. The Membership Committee shall consider
recommendations for new Inn members made by members of the Inn and
shall also actively seek to identify potential members who will
best serve the Inn and its ideals and objectives, while at the same
time broadening and diversifying the membership of the Inn.
At the commencement of the Inn year, the Membership Committee
considers all applications for new and renewed membership for
submission to the Executive Committee. Membership shall be
conferred upon those accepting invitations extended by the
Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee's discretion in extending invitations to
membership is absolute and nonreviewable.
Membership shall not exceed one hundred and twenty five (125)
persons. Applicants are selected in such a manner to ensure
diversity (in type of practice, in sex, in race and in firm
affiliation) in the membership of the Inn.
With respect to the Student Members, the Membership Committee
shall solicit the recommendations of the Law School Liaison. The
Inn requests that pupils be recommended for membership by their
professors based upon their academic performance and participation
in extracurricular activities, having also demonstrated an active
interest in the ethical and professional practice of law.
Temple Inn Annual Membership Dues
Annual Dues are structured as follows, depending on membership
category:
Alumni (Option after 10 consecutive years as a Master)
Private Sector - $550.00 Public
Sector - $325.00
Master (16 years or more in practice)
Private Sector - $550.00 Public
Sector - $325.00
Barrister (More than 6 years but less than 16 years in
practice)
Private Sector - $375.00 Public
Sector - $325.00
Associate (Less than 6 years in practice)
Private Sector - $300.00 Public
Sector - $250.00
Voluntary contributions are accepted from Emeritus members. The
funds raised by the dues defray the Inn's operating expenses,
including catering costs for the monthly meeting, CLE costs and the
national dues paid to the AIC Foundation. Dues statements are
typically mailed in July and prompt payment is expected.
Financial assistance is available. Inquiries concerning same will
be kept confidential. All questions pertaining to dues should be
addressed with the Chapter's Treasurer, Jeffrey Abramowitz.
Temple Inn Attendance Policy
Attendance at the monthly meetings is mandatory since the
success of our Inn depends upon attendance and active participation
at each meeting. The By-Laws of the Temple American Inn of Court
provide that any members who fails to attend three (3) of more
meetings in any one (1) year, may be removed from membership in the
Inn.
Three (3) unexcused absences during a program year will be deemed
to be a resignation from the Inn at all membership levels unless
the Executive Committee waives the provision, for good cause.
Members who are unable to attend a particular meeting must inform
the Inn Administrator(s), in writing, prior to the meeting of the
reason for the intended absence. Absences without advance written
notice are considered to be unexcused.
Attendance will be taken at each meeting. Each member must "sign
in" on the monthly attendance sheet.
Attendance is also required at each team meeting and an attendance
record may be kept by the Team Leader. Team members are entitled to
one (1) unexcused absence.