Your Personalized Pathway: Inns of Court
The Inns of Court program offers students support and mentorship from a diverse set of dedicated advisors who assist students in attaining an enriched law school experience and opportunities for enhanced career outcomes. (We borrowed the “Inns of Court” name from the British institutions that traditionally trained barristers and regulated their practice.)
As 1Ls, our students are assigned to one of six Inns of Court and take all 1L classes with that cohort. Within each Inn, students have access to:
• an advisory team of faculty, staff, and upper-class students who assist them in developing their legal career paths. Students work with their advisors both in a group setting and one-on-one.
• both formal and informal weekly sessions at which students get to know and ask questions of their advisors, as well as meet with alumni and practicing attorneys. Our students participate in seminars such as “Seven Things You Need to Know to Be Successful in Law School and Your Legal Career” and “How to Find Your Place in the New Legal Market.”
• an immediate focus on career development. Our career advisors connect students with practitioners and alumni for informational interviews. For instance, during our students’ weekly sessions with their advisors, they have an ideal forum for discussing their future careers with both their faculty advisors and with visiting practicing attorneys. They learn how to conduct informational interviews with practitioners that leave a positive impression, and they can attend sessions on networking strategies.
This dynamic combination of support and career development from the start of your legal education sets the GW Law experience apart from all others.
“The Inns of Court provides several opportunities. On the career side, networking with current practitioners provides insight into areas of interest, and establishes an early network for internships and jobs. On the community side, you bond with fellow 1Ls, which helps build community and camaraderie. The program also connects students with alumni mentors, which has significantly eased my transition to law school.”
– Michael Komo, J.D. ‘15