The award-winning Inns of Court program, recipient of the 2018 E. Smythe Gambrell Professionalism Award, a program of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professionalism, offers GW Law students support and guidance from a diverse set of advisors dedicated to enriching their law school experience and enhancing their career opportunities.
As 1Ls, students are assigned to one of six Inns of Court, named after former Supreme Court Justices, and take all 1L classes with their Inn. Their Inn remains their community for the next few years. (We borrowed the "Inns of Court" name from the British institutions that traditionally trained barristers and regulated their practice.)
Within each Inn, students are provided:
This dynamic combination of support and career development from the first week of law school is a distinguishing feature of the GW Law experience.
"Incepto Ne Desistam," meaning "May I Not Shrink From My Purpose," taken from Virgil’s Aeneid, Book I.
The symbols and motto reflect Justice Brandeis' tenacity and reputation as a crusader for social justice, regardless of his opponent. The motto also reflects the goal of building determination and resilience among our students that will help them overcome whatever challenges they may face throughout law school and in their post-graduation careers.
“Scientia Est Potestas,” meaning “Knowledge Is Power,” coined by famed British jurist and author Sir Francis Bacon.
The motto reflects Justice Cardozo’s advocacy for the power and importance of common law. The symbols reflect the jurist’s legacy as a profound legal author, of whom it has been said: “His prose is rated with those of Greek and Roman classicists, whose works he read in the original language for his own pleasure.”
“Audentes Fortuna Iuvat,” meaning “Fortune Favors The Bold,” taken from Virgil’s Aeneid, Book X. Said to have been the last words of Pliny the Elder as he left the docks at Pompeii to rescue its citizens from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.
The symbols reflect Justice Jackson’s stature as a lawyer with a national and international reputation, and as Attorney General, Supreme Court Justice and Nuremberg prosecutor. The motto reflects his integrity and his determination to achieve justice at the Nuremberg Trials on behalf of the oppressed.
“Nil Volentibus Arduum,” meaning “Nothing Is Impossible For The Willing.”
The motto is a nod to Jay’s evening students, who work extremely hard to achieve distinction while obtaining their JDs at night. The symbol reflects GW Law’s location in our nation’s capital, and marks John Jay’s place in history as a patriot, diplomat, and the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Vincit Qui Patitur,” meaning “Those Who Endure Will Conquer.”
The symbols and motto reflect Justice Marshall’s courageous work during the Civil Rights Movement, including his litigation of Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court, and his place in history as the first Supreme Court Justice of color. The symbols of endurance and equality recall the injustices endured before equality under law was achieved. They also reflect the Inns of Court program’s goal of building resilience and community among the student body.
“Alis Volat Propriis,” meaning “She Flies On Her Own Wings.”
The symbol and motto reflect Justice O’Connor’s commitment to gender equality and judicial independence. They also reflect the Inns of Court program’s goal of fostering independence and an individual path for each of its students.
Fall Semester Meeting Times
When:
Tuesdays (All students)
Where:
Great Room or Faculty Conference Center
Time:
1:40 – 2:35 pm: Brandeis (Great Room)
2:45 – 3:40 pm: Marshall (Great Room) & O'Connor (Faculty Conference Center)
3:50 – 4:45 pm: Cardozo (Great Room) & Jackson (Faculty Conference Center)
8:10 – 9 pm: Jay (Faculty Conference Center)
Weekly Schedule
Week 1 — August 21
Introduction to the Inns of Court Program
Week 2 — August 28
Strategies for Law School Success
Week 3 — September 4
Start Your Professional Journey
Week 4 — September 11
Writing Center Workshop: Strategies for Exam Success
Week 5 — September 18
Critical Skills for Professional Success
Wednesday, September 12
Writing Center Workshop: Finalizing the LIA
Week 6 — September 25 & 28
The Negotiation Toolkit
Week 7 — October 2
Strategies for Optimizing Focus and Concentration in Law School
Week 8 — October 9
Writing Center Workshop: Organizing ORM Research
Week 9 — October 16
Fall Break
Week 10 — October 23
Self-Assessment: The Key to Finding Meaning, Satisfaction and Happiness in Your Career
Week 11 — October 30
Understanding Legal Practice Areas and Settings
Wednesday, October 31
Writing Center Workshop: Exam Prep + Test-taking Strategies
Week 12 — November 6
Career Conversations: Building Professional Relationships
Friday, November 9
Career Center: How I Found My 1L Summer Job
Week 13 — November 13
Summing Up the Semester: The Practicing Lawyer’s Perspective on Hiring
Wednesday, November 14
Writing Center Workshop: Finalizing the ORM
Thursday, November 15
Career Center: Practice Area Expo
Contact Us
Co-Directors, Inns of Court and Foundations of Practice Programs
