English and Irish Inn Visits

The American Inns of Court has reciprocal visitation agreements with the four Inns of Court in London, England, and King's Inns in Dublin, Ireland. Members of the American Inns of Court, with a letter of introduction from the national office, can visit, tour, and dine at any of the London Inns. King’s Inns in Dublin is a working law school with visits arranged around the school schedule. Our  visitation agreements are reciprocal and English or Irish barristers visiting the United States may attend American Inns of Court meetings.

The relationship between the American and English Inns of Court was established in 1988 with a Declaration of Friendship, signed by Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger and The Right Honourable The Lord Bridge of Harwich. This declaration opened the door to other programs such as the Pegasus Scholarship Trust and the Temple Bar Scholarships.

The relationship between the American Inns of Court and the King's Inns in Dublin was established in 2002 with a Declaration of Friendship, signed by American Inns of Court President Justice Randy J. Holland and Chief Justice of Ireland The Honourable Mr. Justice Ronan Keane. King’s Inns is different from the English Inns of Court in many ways. It is the oldest institution of legal education in Ireland and the primary focus is education and training of barristers. It is also the headquarters of the Benchers which include all the judges of the supreme and high courts and a number of elected barristers. Once you have your proposed dates, please send an e-mail to Cindy Dennis and she will confirm the date and time of your visit.

Reciprocal Inn Visitation Partners

Acquiring a Letter of Introduction

  • American Inns of Court members who wish to visit the English and Irish Inns must contact the national office to request a letter of introduction that will officially introduce them to the English and Irish Inns. 
  • Letters are available only to members of the American Inns of Court and do not guarantee admittance to the Inns. 
  • Contact information for the Inns will be provided in a confirmation with the letter of introduction.
  • It is the member's responsibility to contact the Inns to arrange appointments. 

To obtain a letter of introduction, please send an e-mail request and provide the following information:

  • Travel dates
  • American Inn of Court affiliation
  • Leadership role in your Inn (if any)
  • Brief bio
  • Names of guests traveling with you (if any)
  • Contact information

In general, the Inns function according to their respective legal calendars with some variations in schedule. Dining terms vary and are available from each individual Inn. The English and Irish Legal Terms for 2018–2019 are as follows:

England

  • Michaelmas: October 1–December 21, 2018
  • Hilary: January 11–April 17, 2019
  • Easter: April 30–May 24, 2019
  • Trinity: June 4–July 31, 2019
  • Michaelmas: October 1–December 20, 2019 

Ireland

  • Michaelmas: October 1–December 21, 2018
  • Hilary: January 11–April 12, 2019
  • Easter: April 29–June 6, 2019
  • Trinity: June 19–July 31, 2019
  • Michaelmas: October 7–December 21, 2019        

Inns of Court Visitation Guidelines

  • Review calendars and holiday observances prior to requesting a letter of introduction.
  • Submit your request for a letter of introduction at least 2–3 weeks prior to your travels.
  • Be courteous and accommodating when scheduling an appointment.
  • Follow through on any appointments you make with the Inns.
  • Contact the Inn as soon as possible if you are unable to keep your appointments.
  • Please keep numbers small if visiting the Inns in groups.
  • Come dressed in business attire and prepared to pay for your meal.
  • Visitation does not include special events and educational activities, but may include a tour.