Schedule and Topics

The George Mason Inn meets approximately once a month for dinner and to hold programs and discussions on matters of ethics, skills and professionalism. Each pupilage team--made up of masters, barristers and pupils- is responsible for conducting one program for the Inn each year. Examples of the Inns programs are found in the Inn's Electronic Journal of Trial Advocacy.

September 17, 2008: Hiring

viewing things from the standpoint of both the employer and the employee--how has technology changed the way we hire and research persepctive employees; what can be done by the employee to be better prepared for the interview; what touches are still valuable;

October 15, 2008: Advertising [ethics CLE]

comparing and contrasting old and new styles of advertising; how to avoid some of the ethical pitfalls in advertising; how to use technology to attract clients and what more traditional styles still have to offer, includes use of emails, websites, mass mailings (both electronically and conventionally); 1st Amendment issues relating to the conflict between the right to advertise and the Bar's restrictions on advertising;

November 19, 2008: Time Management

with current technology everyone is plugged in 24/7 and this can be a blessing and a curse--how do you balance growing expectations of your non-stop availability with your need for your sanity; how do you deal with this in billing; how do you handle the growing expectation of clients for immediate responses to emails, text messages, etc. What pitfalls come with making quick responses instead of reasoned decisions, etc.

January 21, 2009: Video Depositions

both a practical examination of how they work and a discussion about the real pros and cons of this technology.

February 18, 2009: Case Investigation

how technology can be used to gather information, conduct investigations on witnesses, opposing counsel, jurors, companies, opposing party, etc and a discussion of the benefits of some of the "old fashion" things that still need to be done.

March 18, 2009: Technology in the Courtroom

the pros and cons of using technology in court; the logistics of using technology in court and some of the "old fashion" ways that still work.

Last updated: 20 August 2009