The Inns of Court actively seeks to foster excellence, professionalism, and civility in the legal profession.

When you became an attorney, you took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and to faithfully discharge the duties of an attorney. So, what exactly does that mean? What are the duties of an attorney? Do the duties of the attorney depend on the area of practice or is there an overarching altruistic theme we as practitioners are charged to maintain?

The Inns of Court gathers as a group to provide answers to these important questions and strives to instill high ethical standards and civility throughout the legal profession.

The practice of law has evolved over time, as have the requirements to obtain a license to practice law. But what should always remain the same – from the day we are sworn in – is a deep commitment to the mission of professional excellence. Whether you embarked on a journey in corporate law, public interest, or solo practice, that mission is the same for all attorneys.

Imagine a legal profession and judiciary truly dedicated to professionalism, ethics, civility, and excellence. Does that truly exist today? Can it exist? Or is that an unrealistic, utopian ideal? At the Inns of Court we believe that we, as a profession, must do everything we can to ensure that we continue to reach for that admirable goal.

So, how do we fulfill this task and why should we as practitioners consider this? Traditionally, lawyers and judges have preserved and protected the rule of law, which is crucial to a free society. So, is it sufficient to just zealously advocate for your client and actively avoid being disciplined by the state bar? Is that bare minimum enough to sustain the profession? No. Instead, we must commit to reaching far beyond that foundational mission to foster a legal profession that demands the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, ethics, and civility.

This concept is the vision of the American Inn’s of Court, which was founded in 1985 with 12 Inns across the country. The concept of the Inns was to promote its vision on a national level and to address the decline in civility in the practice of law. Today, there are over 400 chartered American Inns of Court in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Tokyo.

I joined the Richard Sangster Inns of Court in September of 2015 and have been a member ever since. Unlike some of the other Inns of Court, the Richard Sangster Inn is comprised of three counties: Marin, Napa, and Sonoma. We have legal practitioners and Judges from all three counties in this one Inn of Court. Our local association of lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals throughout the profession, share a passion for professional excellence and we meet once a month for continuing legal education and mentorship.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a member of this group because it has allowed me to grow individually and professionally and has fostered many relationships with practitioners throughout the Bay Area. We have shared many different poignant topics and discussed openly many of the issues we have all faced during our practice. Many of the experienced judges and practitioners in the Inn of Court are more than willing to share their many professional experiences with younger practitioners, which I have found to be extremely valuable as I navigate my own career.

We all have had experiences in our practices that have been less than civil. However, if we all strive for legal excellence while promoting civility, ethics, and professionalism, we will instill those principles in others.

As the President of the Richard Sangster Inns of Court I leave you with four tips help foster professional excellence:

1. Have integrity in how you choose to practice law.

2. Do not make decisions that cause to you to skirt ethical boundaries.

3. Treat all you encounter with courtesy and kindness: opposing counsel, support staff, courtroom staff, and litigants alike.

4. Advocate for your client while striving for professional excellence.

Come join us at the Inns of Court. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Richard Sangster Inns of Court please contact Marie Barnes directly at: marie@mariebarneslaw.com.