One of the benefits of being an Inn member is working with colleagues and judges on what are known as “Pupilage teams” to put together MCLE programs on a variety of topics.
Pupillage teams consist of a few members from each membership category: Associates, Barristers and Masters. Each pupillage team conducts one program for the Inn during the Inn Year.
Pupillage team members gather informally outside of monthly meetings in groups of two or more. This allows the less-experienced attorneys to become more effective advocates and counselors by learning from the more-experienced attorneys and judges.
Over the past several years the Lopardo Inn of Court has been nationally recognized by the national Inns of Court for its outstanding programs by its Achieving Excellence Results award. “Achieving Excellence” refers to a program within the American Inns of Court where the Lopardo Inn of Court was recognized for consistently demonstrating high standards in their operations, including strong leadership, quality programming, effective mentoring, and commitment to professionalism.
2022-2023 Achieving Excellence
2019-2020 Achieving Excellence
2016-2017 Achieving Excellence
The Lopardo Inn of Court meets monthly, September through June.
Our meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Street, Carlsbad CA.
2025 Events
February 12, 2025
Trial & Practice Technology (Demonstration) (Technology in the Practice of Law credit)
Our gifted team of panelists will spend an hour addressing the use of technology in the practice of law, including a discussion of available technology tools, programs, and applications available to assist attorneys in their law practice.
March 12, 2025
Ethically dealing with Jerks and Fools
Our awesome team of panelists will spend an hour addressing issues of civility in the legal profession, including an lively discussion of the links between incivility and bias, incivility that is directed at opposing parties or counsel, and incivility aimed at the judiciary, and proactive steps all participants can and may need to take to address such conduct.
April 9, 2025
Show me the Documents (laying the foundation) Demonstration
Our amazing team of panelists will spend an hour showing pitfalls and issues that arise when attempting to lay the foundation for various types of documents.
May 14, 2025
Confirmation bias
Our incredible team of panelists will spend an hour addressing issues of how to address confirmation bias in trial and the course of litigation, including proactive steps all participants can and may need to take to identify and address such biases.
June 11, 2025
Open Forum and Roundtable
2024 Events
September 11, 2024
Stress & Avoidance -Dr. Todd Pizitz (competence credit)
Please join us for our September dinner meeting and a conversation with Dr. Todd Pizitz. Dr. Todd Pizitz is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist in private practice in Vista, California. Working closely with persons afflicted with various addictions and challenges, he provides psychotherapy and psychological evaluations to adults, adolescents and families.
October 09, 2024
Bill Eddy, mediator and author of “Dealing With Difficult People”
Please join us for our October dinner meeting and a conversation with Bill Eddy, author of “Dealing With Difficult People”. Bill Eddy, LCSW, JD, is a therapist, lawyer, mediator, and Chief Innovation Officer of the High Conflict Institute, based in San Diego. He provides training and consultation for managing high-conflict disputes and high-conflict personalities. He has trained professionals in over 35 states and 12 countries. He is on the part-time faculty at the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law, and was a Conjoint Associate Professor at Newcastle Law School in Newcastle, Australia for seven years. Eddy is the author of 20 books and manuals, including High Conflict People in Legal Disputes, 2nd Ed; Splitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder (with Randi Kreger); It’s All Your Fault at Work: Managing Narcissists and Other High-Conflict Personalities (with L. Georgi DiStefano); Dating Radar (with Megan Hunter); 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life and Our New World of Adult Bullies: How to Spot Them – How to Stop Them.
November 13, 2024
Depp v. Heard — Live!
Our Historical Trial Presentation this year is Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard! Our team of presenters will explain the background of this complex case, the stream of legal issues that came up, the procedural steps (and missteps) that lead to the admission of key explosive testimony, and a summary of the twists and turns of this headline grabbing trial — all done in a multi-act play format!
December 11, 2024
Effective Written Legal Advocacy (Vista Superior Court research attorneys’ presentation)
This presentation will consist of a panel of four courthouse research attorneys from the North County Division of the San Diego Superior Court. They will share their views about effective legal writing and advocacy — a “must attend” for attorneys practicing both in Vista and throughout San Diego County!