The approximate seventy-two members are divided into seven Individual Pupillage Teams, each consisting of one Master of the Bench, three Masters of the Bar, three Barristers, and two or three Associates or Students.
The Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court meets 7 times each year, approximately once a month from October through April, to participate in trial demonstrations, appellate arguments, discussions of ethical issues and advocacy techniques, to receive critical evaluations, to share insights into the judicial process, and to enjoy a light meal together.
One social gathering precedes the regular program meetings and a final celebratory dinner caps the year.
The mentoring program is of particular importance. Its goal is to bring about a close relationship between members of the individual Inns or teams by the experiencing of special activities on a one-to-one basis and the frequent meeting of the members of each individual Inn or team.
Individual Pupillage Teams: Most of the educational efforts of the Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court are done by and within the Individual Pupillage Teams--Brandeis, Cardozo, Hand, Holmes, Marshall, Pound and Story.
Regular Meetings: Seven program meetings shall be held each year between October and April. The program at each meeting shall be the responsibility of a particular Individual Pupillage Team on a rotational basis, the rotation to be determined by the Executive Committee. The usual time allotted for a program shall be from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., with the meal or snack to follow, the nature of which is to be determined by the individual Inn responsible for the program. Ordinarily, the last meeting of the season should feature a full dinner and, when feasible, a social evening shall be planned preceding the regular meetings in the fall.
Programs:One Master of the Bench, three Masters of the Bar, three Barristers, and two or three Associates or Students make up an Individual Pupillage Team. They organize and plan one presentation a year for the entire Van Pelt Inn. The subject is whatever they choose, and creativity, both in substance and style, is encouraged. Each program, including discussion, should take about one and one-half hours -- 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.-- followed by a half hour devoted to a light lunch arranged for by the Individual Pupillage Team. Because our experience has been that ethics is the subject that most interests members, it is requested that every program have at least a portion of ethical issues in it.
Each Pupillage Team is allowed from the Van Pelt Inn's budget up to $100 for the program -- printing, copying, or whatever -- and lunch.
After the presentation of a program, someone designated within the Individual Pupillage Team should prepare a report, preferably on the form "American Inn of Court Demonstration Report" and send it to the national organization, American Inns of Court Foundation, for possible publication in the programming manual, which is circulated among all American Inns of Courts for the exchange of program ideas.
Individual PupillageTeam Meetings: A meeting perhaps once a month or so of each Individual Pupillage Team at a time other than at the regular program meetings of the Van Pelt Inn should be particularly helpful in creating closeness of the relationship among the members of that Individual Inn.
Mentoring Program:The American Inns of Court are dedicated to improving the skills, professionalism, and legal ethics of the bench and bar. The Robert Van Pelt Inn believes that these educational objectives are enhanced when a Master of the Bench or Master of the Bar shares learning experiences with a Barrister, Associate or Student in a close, one-on-one setting in addition to participating in the regular monthly program meetings of the Robert Van Pelt Inn.
Attending a trial, a portion of a trial, a hearing, a deposition, an arbitration -- whatever -- and discussing professional aspects of the experience are some examples of such mentoring experiences. Others might involve reviewing a brief or memorandum or reading and discussing a law review or other article. These are just a few suggestions; originality is encouraged. The important goal is that learning shall take place.
Accordingly, it is suggested that each of the Masters be teamed with a Barrister, Associate or Student or more than one and that they participate, if this is found feasible and useful to the participants, in an educational experience with some frequency.
This mentoring program is an ambitious one, and it is intended to be. Our principal purpose of being an American Inn of Court is to help the new and soon-to-be members of the profession to grow in civility, ethics, and professionalism. Nothing short of ambitious programs will have a noticeable effect.
Attendance:Education in the Inns of Court setting is wholly dependent upon attendance of the members -- at the meetings of the Van Pelt Inn, at the meetings of the Individual Pupillage Teamss, and at the one-on-one mentoring sessions. Opportunity for comparing attendance records will be afforded by a sign-in sheet at each regular program meeting.
Membership: The Robert Van Pelt American Inn of Court (Van Pelt Inn) has seven Individual Pupillage Teams, each having one Master of the Bench (a judge), three Masters of the Bar (experienced lawyers), three Barristers (less experienced lawyers), and two or three Associates (one or two years out of law school) or Students (seniors in law school).
Terms of Members: Masters of the Bench are invited for a minimum of three years and have the option of extending their membership indefinitely with the approval of the Executive Committee. Masters of the Bar are invited for a minimum of three years and a maximum of five. Barristers have terms of three years, which may be extended to five by invitation of the Executive Committee. Students are limited to one-year terms, and Associates, to two-year terms.
Dues of Members: Annual dues for Masters are $120; for Barristers, $85; and for Associates and Students, $20.
Innkeepers: Innkeepers were added in 1992. They are former active members who now provide support of all kinds to the Van Pelt Inn--by financing, mentoring, advising, discussing, attending.A member who has completed his or her term as a Master or Barrister becomes an Innkeeper by making a commitment of $100 for a year. An Innkeeper receives invitations to participate in all meetings and activities of the Van Pelt Inn and may renew the Innkeeper status from year to year.