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What is the Inn of Court?

The New Orleans Bar Association Inn of Court was chartered in 1992 and is one of four New Orleans Inns associated with the American Inns of Court. The American Inns of Court is a national association of attorneys and judges dedicated to increasing the level of professionalism and civility in the practice of law and the enhancement of the quality of legal services in our community. The program is patterned after the English Inns of Court in which more senior attorneys tutor law students and younger attorneys within the organization of inns and its members discuss emerging issues of law in a bench-bar setting.

Nominations for Membership to the Inn of Court

Membership to the Inn of Court is a process which begins by a nomination from a member of the judiciary and/or an existing Inn of Court member. For information on joining the Inn of Court, please contact the NOBA liaison Briana Nelms at (504) 525-7453.

Inn of Court Professionalism Creed

Whereas, the Rule of Law is essential to preserving and protecting the rights and liberties of a free people; and

Whereas, throughout history, lawyers and judges have preserved, protected and defended the Rule of Law in order to ensure justice for all; and

Whereas, preservation and promulgation of the highest standards of excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility, and legal skills are essential to achieving justice under the Rule of Law;

Now therefore, as a member of an American Inn of Court, I hereby adopt this professional creed with a pledge to honor its principles and practices:

• I will treat the practice of law as a learned profession and will uphold the standards of the profession with dignity, civility and courtesy.
• I will value my integrity above all. My word is my bond.
• I will develop my practice with dignity and will be mindful in my communications with the public that what is constitutionally permissible may not be professionally appropriate.
• I will serve as an officer of the court, encouraging respect for the law in all that I do and avoiding abuse or misuse of the law, its procedures, its participants and its processes.
• I will represent the interests of my client with vigor and will seek the most expeditious and least costly solutions to problems, resolving disputes through negotiation whenever possible.
• I will work continuously to attain the highest level of knowledge and skill in the areas of the law in which I practice.
• I will contribute time and resources to public service, charitable activities and pro bono work.
• I will work to make the legal system more accessible, responsive and effective.

I will honor the requirements, the spirit and the intent of the applicable rules or codes of professional conduct for my jurisdiction, and will encourage others to do the same.

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Previous Inn of Court Programs/Events

Court Report: The Chief's Vantage Point
Featuring Chief Judge Terri Love, LA Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal

Spring Social at the Peacock Room, Hotel Fontenot New Orleans

Annual Mardi Gras CLE & Luncheon

A Parade of Municipal Offenses with Judge Mark Shea

A discussion of New Orleans lawsuits involving Mardi Gras and copyrights, trademarks, and patents with Seth Nehrbass and Lindsay Calhoun

Annual Unmasking the Laws of Mardi Gras CLE

with Judge Franz Zibilich, Shannon A. Kelly and Lesli D. Harris

Joint Inn of Court Meeting, Cyber Security: A Lawyer's Ethical and Legal Duty to Proect Private Information

Spring Social at the CellarDoor

Annual Unmasking the Laws of Mardi Gras CLE
with Judge Desiree Charbonnet, Lesli Harris, Dalton Courson, Stephen Klaffky and Paige O'Hale

Joint Inn of Court Professionalism CLE: "America: A More Perfect Union"
with Chief Justice Bernette Johnson

Happy Lawyering: Managing Stress and Anxiety CLE
with Buddy Stockwell and Leah Rosa

Inn of Court Spring Social at Marcello's Restaurant & Wine Bar

Unmasking the Laws of Mardi Gras CLE
with Judge Desiree Charbonnet, Lesli Harris, Jack Benjamin, Jr., Hayley Landry, Kristen Legendre and Shannon Kelly

The Join Inn of Court Meeting at U.S. District Court
with Kenneth Polite

Ethics on and in Trial: Ethical Issues in The Verdict
with Carmelite Bertaut, Joseph McReynolds and Sarah Wellman

Happy Hour Social & CLE

Mardi Gras CLE
Antoine's Restaurant

Annual Joint Inns of Court Meeting
Hosted by the New Orleans Bar Association Inn of Court
Speaker: Chief Judge Carl Stewart, US Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
US Court of Appeals at the Fifth Circuit

The Risks and Dangers of Social Media 
with The Hon. Susie Morgan, Christopher Ralston, Lesli Harris and Lauren Godshall
12 Noon CLE and Lunch
Phelps Dunbar, 365 Canal Street, 20th Floor, New Orleans

Happy Hour Social

Mardi Gras CLE
Antoine's Restaurant

Joint Inns of Court Meeting
Louisiana Supreme Court

Understanding the Medical Causes of Stress and How it Affects Professionalism
Tommy's Bistro