Symposium on the Status of the Legal Profession: Facing the Challenges of the 21st Century
Sponsored by the American Inns of Court and Georgetown Law
Rarely do we have the opportunity to meet and consider the important challenges facing the legal profession in the 21st Century. But for a few days during the National Cherry Blossom Festival in our nation’s capital, 260 state and federal judges, legal scholars and attorneys, representing 114 Inns from 35 states, and learned guests from Ireland, England and Wales under the auspices of The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, did just that. The 42 panelists and speakers included: Justice Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court of the United States; the Rt. Hon. The Lord Philips of Worth Matravers, president of the newly created Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; the Hon. Mr. Justice John L. Murray, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland; the Rt. Hon. Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC; Robert S. Bennett, Esq.; the Hon. Michael Chertoff; and Senator Fred D. Thompson, Esq. Topics discussed by the assembly of these distinguished guest speakers and panelists covered a wide range of interest, such as: the use and misuse of technology; legal practice and the media; bridging the gap from classroom to courtroom; mentoring and pupillage; ethics and professionalism; principles of civility for the bar and on the bench; and perspectives from barristers and judges from the United States, England, Wales and Ireland. While clearly noting that there is much work to be done, the Symposium ended on a strong note of good fellowship and cheer.
Regina Snow Mandl, Esq.
Trustee, American Inns of Court
April 12, 2011