The Honorable J. Clifford Wallace Inn of Court was founded in 2004 and serves San Diego County. The Wallace Chapter is committed not only to improving advocacy skills, but also to heightening ethical standards in the legal profession. Our membership reflects the rich diversity of the San Diego bench and bar and includes plaintiff and defense counsel, public and private practitioners, state and federal lawyers, practitioners from large and small firms, corporate counsel, professors and judges.

Our Chapter is comprised of approximately one hundred members from the legal community who are divided into four experience categories:

• Masters (defined as judges, or litigators with more than 15 years of litigation experience)
• Barristers (who have 15 years or less of litigation experience)
• Associates (who have 5 years or less of litigation experience)
• Students drawn from each of the three San Diego law schools.

The members of our Inn are grouped into “pupilage” teams. Each team consists of a mix of Masters, Barristers, Associates and student members. This arrangement fosters the development of mentoring relationships between judges and senior members of the bar with less experienced lawyers and students. Each pupilage team is responsible for presenting one program per year on a topic of interest. The purpose is to teach in a manner that shows rather than tells.