Delco re:View Fall 2018 - 29

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September, 2019. The Guy G. deFuria American

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE INNS
OF COURT
In the British legal system, the four Inns
of Court (Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Inner
Temple and Middle Temple) serve a role
similar to that of the state bar associations
or attorney disciplinary boards in the United
States. All barristers must belong to one
(Pictured left): The Inn of Court Officers, 2018-2019: Richard M. Heller, Esq.,
of the four Inns, which are responsible for
President; Joseph P. Lesniak, Jr., Esq., Vice President; William L. Baldwin, Esq.,
supervising and disciplining members. The
Inns also occupy distinct geographical areas
Treasurer; Pamela Lee Van Blunk, Esq., Secretary; John Neumann Hickey, Esq.,
where barristers have offices and receive
Immediate Past President
legal training.
The history of the Inns of Court can be
traced back to the 14th century, and prior
to the introduction of bar examinations in
the United Kingdom in the 19th century, all
lawyers were trained by the Inns through
a process similar to an "apprenticeship."
Students and lawyers would live, work, and
dine together in the respective Inn to which
they belonged and would thus learn the
practice of law and skills necessary to serve
in the courts.
The movement to create Inns of Court
in the U.S. began in the 1970s under the
leadership of Supreme Court Chief Justice
Warren Burger, who wanted to emulate the
The objectives of this American Inn of
* To facilitate the development of law
model of the British Inns. The American
Court are as follows:
students, recent law school graduates,
* To establish a society of judges,
and less experienced lawyers as skilled Inns of Court Foundation was created in
1985, and this organization began to charter
lawyers, legal educator, law students
participants in the American court
Inn chapters throughout the country. Unlike
and other, to promote excellence in
system;
the British counterpart, membership in
legal advocacy in accordance with the
* To preserve and transmit ethical
American Inns of Court is not mandatory
Professional Creed to the American
values from one generation of legal
for attorneys, and the Inns really serve as
Inns of Court;
professionals to the next; and
associations which promote professionalism,
* To foster greater understanding of and
* To build upon the genius and strengths civility, ethics, and skills development for
appreciation for the adversary system of
of the common law and the English Inns members of the legal profession.
dispute resolution in American law, with
of Court and to renew and inspire joy
The Guy G. deFuria Chapter of the
particular emphasis on ethics, civility,
and zest in legal advocacy as a service
American Inns of Court is a section of the
professionalism and legal skills;
worthy of constant effort and learning.
Delaware County Bar Association that was
* To provide significant educational
chartered in 1990 to organize and promote
Inn members include approximately 80 collegiality and excellence in the practice of
experiences that will improve and
members of the Judiciary and Bar.
enhance the abilities of lawyers as
law. The section continues to offer member
November 2019: The Guy G. deFuria
counselors and advocates and of
attorneys the opportunity to meet together
Inn of Court hosted its Fall meeting at the
judges as adjudicators and judicial
regularly and to support and mentor one
Springfield Country Club. The seminar
administrators;
another. If you are a DCBA member and
entitled
"Pennsylvania's
New
Clean
Slate
would like more information about joining
* To promote interaction and collegiality
Law"
offered
1
Substantive
CLE/CJE
the Inn of Court, visit the Inn's website at
among all legal professionals in
Credit
and
featured
speakers
Michael
H.
www.defuriainnofcourt.org. *
order to minimize misapprehensions,
Hill,
Esq.;
Robert
C.
Keller,
Esq.;
and
Erica
misconceptions and failures of
Briant, Esq., LASP.
communication that obstruct the
The next Educational Meeting is
effective practice of law;
scheduled for Spring, 2019.

Inn of Court held its 2018-2019 kickoff event at the
Springfield County Club.

Fall 2018

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Delco re:View Fall 2018

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