Frequently Asked Questions ... and Answers!

How do I join an American Inn of Court?

  • Each American Inn of Court establishes its own criteria for membership and its own procedures for admitting new members.
  • Please contact the Inn directly.
  • The Inn nearest you will instruct you on how to apply for membership.
  • Find an Inn near you.

What does it cost (in terms of both time and money) to join?

  • Membership in an American Inn of Court requires active participation.
  • Most Inns hold monthly meetings from September through May.
  • Members are expected to participate in pupillage teamwork to develop one of the monthly programs.
  • Many Inns also have structured mentoring programs that require additional time.
  • Inns must charge dues to cover the cost of meals at the monthly meetings. Please inquire with the local Inn you are interested in joining regarding their current dues.

How many members are in the American Inns of Court?

The American Inns of Court is one of the fastest growing legal organizations in the country.  Today, there are approximately 30,000 judges, lawyers, law students, and law school faculty actively participating in the American Inns of Court. There are also more than 150,000 alumni members.

How many law schools are affiliated with the American Inns of Court?

There are more than 150 accredited law schools participating with one or more Inns in some way.

Are the American Inns of Court tied to the English Inns?

While the American Inns of Court were inspired by the English Inns and we share a collegial relationship, there is no formal or legal relationship.

Can I visit the English Inns?

Members of the American Inns of Court enjoy visitation privileges established by a Declaration of Friendship signed by the English and American Inns of Court.

  • Members can acquire a letter of introduction that will officially introduce them to the English and Irish Inns.
  • Letters do not guarantee admittance to the Inns.
  • It is the member's responsibility to contact the Inns to arrange appointments.
  • Contact information for each Inn will be provided in a confirmation once the letter of introduction has been sent.

Is the American Inns of Court just for trial lawyers?

No. Originally, the American Inns of Court were started as a way to improve trial advocacy skills. The mission of the American Inns of Court today, however, is broader and focuses on ethics, civility and professionalism in the practice of law. While American Inns of Court focus generally on litigation practice, there are now Inns of Transaction Counsel being organized for attorneys who specialize in transactional practice areas.

Can the American Inns of Court help me locate a good lawyer in another part of the country?

Many Inn members will refer business to other Inn members across the country.  Members can access the national membership directory by clicking here.  The American Inns of Court, however, does not offer a referral service.

Can I talk to someone in my area about the American Inns of Court?

Yes. Members of Inns are usually quite happy to talk about their experiences. You can also:

Do the courts see any benefit to the American Inns of Court?

Yes. The American Inns of Court have been endorsed by:

  • The Conference of Chief Justices
  • The Judicial Administration Division of the American Bar Association
  • The Seventh Circuit Committee on Professionalism

Do judges give preference to other American Inns of Court members in their courts?

No. The American Inns of Court give judges and lawyers an opportunity to discuss the ethical and professional issues that they share. However, since the primary focus of Inn membership is ethics, there is a strong assumption that neither judges nor lawyers will use their Inn membership in a way that would violate their ethical duties.

Do I need to login to the website?

Many resources on our website do not require you to login.  However, there are numerous resources and features that are open to members only and require you to login to access them.

If you want to update your profile, register for a Leadership Summit, purchase American Inns of Court merchandise, or order a program from the online Program Library you will need to login to the website. If you are an active member of an Inn and have provided your email address, you probably already have a login.  Click here to recover your login credentials.

Click here for instructions on How to Login and Update Your Profile.

How do I create an account so that I can log in to the website?

You most likely already have an account. The national office has e-mail addresses on file for most of our active members. The e-mail address we have on file for you serves as your username or log in. Anyone who has an e-mail address on file with us has an account.