Bylaws
of the
Texas Tech University School of Law American Inn of Court
Article I
General
Section 1. Purpose and Operation
The Texas Tech University School of Law American Inn of Court
("Inn") will operate and do business as the Texas Tech University
School of Law American Inn of Court. The Inn's purpose is set forth
in its Organizational Charter issued by the American Inns of Court
Foundation.
Section 2. Principal
Location
The Inn is located in Lubbock, Lubbock
County, Texas.
Article II
Organization
Section 1. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is composed of the
officers, chairs of committees formed by the Executive Committee,
and other members as determined by the active Masters. The duties
of the Executive Committee, and its members, are set forth in the
Organizational Charter and in these Bylaws. The Executive Committee
may meet and vote in person, via electronic mail, telephone, or any
other method agreed to by a simple majority of the Committee
members.
Section 2. Officers
The officers will be the president, the
immediate past president, the counselor who will also serve as
president-elect, a secretary/treasurer or a secretary and a
treasurer, and other officers the active Masters deem necessary.
Each officer will be selected by the active Masters in accordance
with the Organizational Charter. Unless otherwise determined
by the active Masters, each officer will serve a two‑year term. An
officer may serve multiple terms and may serve terms in different
positions.
Section 3. Committees
The Executive Committee may establish, change, or discontinue
standing and ad-hoc committees. The Executive Committee selects the
chairs, co-chairs, and committee members. Unless otherwise directed
by the Executive Committee, each chair or co-chair will serve a
two-year term, but may serve consecutive terms. Committees may
create ad-hoc subcommittees.
The founding Executive Committee has created
the following standing committees: Membership Committee and Program
Committee.
Although the Masters or Executive Committee may assign other
duties, each committee will be charged as follows:
(A) Membership Committee- The Membership Committee will
solicit and review membership applications and recommend new Inn
members to the Executive Committee; recommend changes in member
status to the Executive Committee; maintain attendance records and
oversee attendance in accordance with Article IV(2) of these
Bylaws; and recommend Pupillage Groups to the Executive
Committee.
(B) Program Committee- The Program Committee will oversee
and approve program topics, submit programs for Continuing Legal
Education credit, and when appropriate, submit programs for award
consideration.
Section 4. Pupillage
Groups
All active members will be assigned to a
Pupillage Group. Each Pupillage Group will be chaired by an active
Master appointed by the Executive Committee. The Pupillage Groups
and chairs will be reassigned every year.
Article III
Membership
Section 1. Active Members
Membership in this Inn consists of Masters,
Barristers, Associates, and Pupils. Masters are the voting
members of the Inn. Membership terms, where applicable, run from
July 1 of one calendar year to June 30 of the next calendar year,
or as otherwise directed by the Executive Committee.
The four classifications of Inn members are
as follows. Each member, regardless of classification, must have
demonstrated superior character, ability, and competence relative
to his or her years of experience.
(A) Masters-consisting of lawyers and law
professors of at least ten years' experience, and judges with
substantial experience; each Master must have also demonstrated
superior character, ability and competence as advocates; Masters
who are judges may be referred to as "Benchers" and Masters who are
law professors may be referred to as "Academic Masters." Masters
serve indefinite terms, but will be asked to renew their interest
in serving each year.
(B) Barristers - consisting of lawyers and
law professors of at least five years' experience and judges.
Barristers serve five-year terms that may not be renewed absent
extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Executive
Committee; Barristers may be considered as future Masters.
(C) Associates - consisting of lawyers with
zero to five years' of experience. Associates serve three-year
terms that may not be renewed absent extraordinary circumstances as
determined by the Executive Committee; Associates may be considered
as future Barristers of the Inn.
(D) Pupils - consisting of second- and third-year
law students. Pupils serve one-year terms that may not be renewed
absent extraordinary circumstances as determined by the Executive
Committee; Pupils may be considered as future Associates of the
Inn.
Section 2. Inactive Members
The Executive Committee may confer Emeritus
and Honorary memberships for Masters as set forth in the
Organizational Charter.
Article IV
Meetings and Attendance
Section 1. Meetings
The Inn will meet at least six times per year, at times
determined by the Executive Committee. The Inn will endeavor to
have at least one social event per year wherein members may invite
guests. In addition, the Inn will convene at least one meeting of
the Masters each year, typically before the regular Inn year
begins.
Section 2. Attendance
All active members are expected to attend and
participate actively in the Inn's meetings. Each active
member will be allowed one absence from the monthly meetings in a
year. If an active member anticipates missing, or actually misses,
more than one meeting, he or she may petition to the Executive
Committee to remain as a member in good standing; the Executive
Committee typically will grant such petitions only for good cause,
such as illness or extended out-of-town work by the member. Members
who do not meet the attendance requirement will lose Inn membership
at the end of the Inn year; in addition, the Executive Committee
reserves the right to remove that member mid-year and to select a
new member to fill that position. No dues will be refunded to a
member who misses meetings and/or is removed from membership. In
addition, a removed member may not be accepted for future
membership absent exceptional circumstances as determined by the
Executive Committee.
Article V
Voting and Elections
Section 1. Masters
With the exception of Emeritus and Honorary
Masters, each Master will have one vote on each matter submitted to
the Masters. A majority of voting Masters will constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business. A tie vote means the measure
fails. Every act done or decision made by a majority of the Masters
attending a meeting will be regarded as the act of all the
Masters.
Section 2. Executive Committee
Each member of the Executive Committee will
have one vote on each matter submitted to the Committee. In the
event of a tie, the President will have the deciding vote. A
majority of the members of the Committee will constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business. Every act done or decision made by
a majority of the members attending a meeting called for that
purpose will be regarded as the act of the entire Committee.
Section 3. Elections
The nomination and election of officers,
except for president and immediate past president, will occur in
every odd‑numbered year, beginning 2015, in March or April. The
vote may occur at a regularly-scheduled Inn meeting, or at a
meeting of the active Masters especially called for that
purpose.
Section 4. Vacancies
When a position of officer, committee chair,
or Pupillage Group chair becomes vacant, the Executive Committee
may appoint an active Master to fill the vacancy until the next
regular election.
Article VI
Fiscal Matters
Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Inn is the same as the fiscal year of the
American Inns of Court Foundation, which is from July 1 of one
calendar year to June 30 of the next calendar year.
Section 2. Dues
Annual dues may be in an amount consistent
with the Organizational Charter and will be levied by the Treasurer
during July. Any member who fails to pay dues before the second Inn
meeting of the fiscal year and after reasonable notice may be
removed from membership by the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Expenses
The Inn will pay all reasonable expenses incurred by members of
the Executive Committee for items such as attending at state,
regional, or national events of the American Inns of Court
Foundation meetings; costs associated with programming; and other
costs specifically approved by the Executive Committee. The
Committee may authorize payment to a non-Inn member to serve as
Executive Director.
Section 4. Banking
All Inn funds will be deposited to the Inn's credit in banks,
accounts, and depositories as the Executive Committee may
select. All checks, drafts, or orders of the payment of
money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name
of the Inn must be signed by such officer or officers, agent or
agents of the Inn, and in such manner and amount that from
time-to-time will be determined by resolution of the Executive
Committee.
Section 5. Contracts
The Executive Committee may authorize any officer or agent of
the Inn to enter into any contracts or execute and deliver any
instruments in the name of and on behalf of the Inn, and such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Article VII
Adoption and Amendments
Section 1. Adoption
These Bylaws will be adopted by this Inn upon approval by a
majority of the active Masters and after being submitted to and
approved, in writing, by the Board of Trustees of the American Inns
of Court Foundation. The active Masters may make valid decisions by
voting by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or other means when
deemed necessary by the Executive Committee or the President.
Section 2. Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws may be made by a majority of the
active Masters of the Inn and must be submitted to and approved, in
writing, by the Board of Trustees of the American Inns of Court
Foundation. The active Masters may make valid decisions by voting
by mail, facsimile, electronic mail, or other means when deemed
necessary by the Executive Committee or the President.