Beginning in October 2004, the Board of Trustees of the American Inns of Court Foundation began laying the groundwork for redefining and advancing the mission of the American Inns of Court nationwide. The completed process will provide the necessary, long-range vision and framework needed to define and successfully accomplish the goals of our mission to perfect the practice of law in America.
The Strategic Planning Committee is chaired by the Foundation's Vice President, Donald G. Kempf and includes board members Emmet Bondurant, Jan Michelsen, Dean Robert Walsh, Justice Don Lemons and John Robinson. Under their leadership, in October, 2005 the board of trustees adopted the following revised mission statement, goals and objectives for the American Inns of Court.
MISSIONOF THE AMERICAN INNS OF COURT
The Mission of the American Inns of Court is to foster excellence in
professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills.
GOALS OF THE AMERICAN INNS OF COURT FOUNDATION
Goal One: To promote the American Inns of Court mission by encouraging members
of the legal profession to participate in an American Inn of Court.
Objectives
- Encourage the formation of sound and locally rooted American Inns of Court throughout the United States.
- Strive to develop a culture of inclusiveness, so that any interested members of the legal profession may participate in an American Inn of Court, giving particular attention to personal and practice diversity.
- Assist law students and recent graduates making the transition from law school to the practice of law.
Goal Two: To help ensure the vitality and continuity of local Inns
Objectives
- Assist new Inns in establishing themselves
- Provide ongoing support to existing Inns
- Enhance the individual membership experience
Goal Three: To communicate a culture of excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility
and skills to the legal community and generally.
Objectives
- Promote the American Inns of Court mission to the legal profession.
- Promote public awareness of the mission and activities of the American Inns of Court.
- Promote the American Inns of Court mission through cooperative arrangements with other suitable organizations in the United States.
- Maintain and foster an ongoing relationship with the English and Irish Inns of Court and other leaders of the legal establishment in those countries.
Goal Four: To ensure the long-term financial viability and growth of the American Inns
of Court.
Objectives
- Utilize dues income in maintaining programs and services for local Inns.
- Periodically adjust dues to keep up with inflation.
- Fully endow awards and international scholarships, setting sunset provisions based on utility, cost and endowment status of each program.
- Explore opportunities for developing non-dues income.
The strategic planning process will take some time and considerable effort. The staff of the Foundation is researching and formulating a comprehensive action plan that will fully implement the goals and objectives as defined by the board of trustees. A significant part of the action planning process is the Member Needs Assessment which has been sent to a statistical sampling of our members to help determine which of the many programs and services that the Inns and Foundation provide are meeting the needs of our members and which aren't.
If you have received a notice asking for your participation, we hope that you will take a few minutes to complete the survey. This is a valuable opportunity fro you to share your perceptions with us, and be a part of our planning for the future of the American Inns of Court.
Throughout this process, the board and staff are committed to increasing the vitality and value of the Inns to the American legal profession and ensuring that each member's experience in the American Inns of Court is of the highest quality possible.
We encourage all our members to be a part of this dynamic planning and growth process.
Please send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to:
David P. Carey, Executive Director
The American Inns of Court
1229 King Street, Second Floor
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Fax: (703) 684-3607
E-mail: dcarey@innsofcourt.org