TEAMS
The Inn’s active members are divided into eight teams. The program committee selects the teams and makes sure that each team includes Masters, Barristers, Associates, and one Student who would not otherwise encounter each other frequently in their daily work. Team assignments may be changed for good cause. Members desiring to change teams must do so as early as possible. They must also find a member of another team that has not yet presented a program who is willing to take their place and must inform the president of their reason for changing teams and the name of their replacement.
The teams are encouraged to meet monthly, or more often if necessary, to prepare their program and to promote comradery among the team members. The teams choose their own meeting places and times, but are expected to notify their team liaison when their meetings are scheduled.
Each team is led by two co-captains. The co-captains are responsible for convening the team, for assuring that the team members attend the Inn’s meetings and activities, and for promoting contacts among team members between Inn meetings. The co-captains also supervise the preparation of the team’s program and are responsible for all other team activities. One member of the team is designated as the team’s reporter. The responsibilities of the reporter include (1) assuring that the team’s handout materials are prepared and submitted for posting on the Inn’s website prior to the meeting and (2) preparing the Program Submission Form and assembling the related materials for submission to the American Inns of Court.
One of the members of the program committee serves as the liaison to each team. The liaison attends the team’s meetings and is available to assist the team in organizing, and presenting its program.
Each team must prepare and present one of the Inn’s eight programs. In addition to presenting a program, the teams provide Inn members an opportunity to become better acquainted with other lawyers practicing in Middle Tennessee. The teams are the principle component of the Inn’s mentoring activities. Their diverse membership is intended to build an inter-generational relationship that encourages frank and personal discussion of matters of practice, ethics, civility, and all other aspects of the practice of law. The most experienced members of the team are encouraged to pass on the best of the practice to the less experienced members. Accordingly, Masters are encouraged to provide their Associate and Student colleagues with opportunities to observe them in court, in deposition, or in the office.