J. WILLARD O'BRIEN AMERICAN INN OF COURT

The Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law J. Willard O'Brien American Inn of Court is a nationally recognized, award-winning, chartered member of the American Inns of Court (AIC) - the oldest, largest, and fastest growing legal mentoring organization in the country.

Established in 2000, the Villanova Law Inn shares AIC's mission to promote professionalism, civility, ethics, and excellent legal skills among members of the bench and bar. The Inn also applies AIC's membership and program model, adopting the English Inns of Court tradition of legal apprenticeship by encouraging less-experienced attorneys to learn from more seasoned attorneys and judges in a collegial atmosphere that promotes:

mentoring and networking between members;
continuing legal education and skills development; and
the exchange of legal concepts, ideas and techniques.

The Inn is named in honor of J. Willard O'Brien, dean of Villanova Law from 1972 to 1983.
On May 10, 2022, the Inn celebrated its 20th anniversary at Villanova Law.

Become A Member

Membership in the Villanova Law Inn is open to judges and lawyers, both alumni and non-alumni, and second and third year law students.

The Inn is composed of four membership categories based upon years of experience. All members, with exception of law students, are required to submit dues.

Membership Dues

Non-Government

Government, Public Interest & Academics

Masters

Criteria: Judges, law professors and experienced lawyers with at least 15 years of experience
Term: 5 years
Dues: $510*

Barristers

Criteria: Lawyers with at least 7 years experience
Term: 3 years
Dues: $400*

Associates

Criteria: Lawyers who have less than 7 years of experience
Term: 2 years
Dues: $275*

Pupils

Criteria: Second or Third-Year Villanova Law Student
Term: 1 year
No dues required

*Late payment penalty of $40 if paid after November 1

All applicants, with the exception of law students, must complete a Membership Application and submit it to the Inn along with
a nominating letter from a member of the Villanova Law Inn of Court.

Membership applications are typically processed each spring and/or summer in preparation for the upcoming Inn year commencing in September.

Villanova Law students typically receive an email in the spring semester of their second-year inviting them to indicate their interest in joining the Inn for the upcoming year commencing in September. Fifteen among those who indicate interest are selected at random and invited to serve on the Inn as Pupils during their second and third year of law school.

Should you have any questions regarding membership or the application process, please contact the Membership Chair, Simeon Poles.

Meeting Schedule

September 10
Opening Meeting - Charles Widger School of Law
5:00 p.m.: New Member Orientation
5:30 p.m.: General Membership Meeting

October 15
Joint Meeting: Civility on the Bench
City Hall

November 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Team 1: An Overview of AI Technology and Its Legal Implications
Captain: Sarah Keaton
Charles Widger School of Law

December 3 at 6:00 p.m.
Holiday Gathering
Yards Brewing

January 14 at 5:30 p.m.
Team 2: Applications of AI Technology in the Practice of Law
Captain: John Kopesky
Charles Widger School of Law

February 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Team 3: Use & Impact of AI Technology on Civil/Criminal Litigation
Captain: Meg Farley
DLA Piper

March 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Team 4: Ethical Implications of AI Technology & Law
Captain: Tom Wilkinson
Charles Widger School of Law

April 8 at 5:30 p.m.
Team 5: Legal Implications of AI Technology: Data Privacy and Intellectual Property Concerns
Captain: Darby Sullivan
Location TBD

May 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Closing Meeting
Charles Widger School of Law

Officers & Members

President
Francis McDevitt

Counselor
Hon. Linda Carpenter

Treasurer
Roman Galas

Membership Chair
Simeon Poles

Program Chair
Michael DiFebbo

Community Outreach Coordinator
Rosalie Spelman

Barrister Representative
Courtney Dolaway

Associate Representative
Ryan Raymond

Immediate Past President
Hon. G. Michael Green

Villanova Law Faculty Liaison
Prof. Brenner Fissell

Administrator
Colleen Rogers

Samuel J. Arena, Jr.
Michael Barrett
April M. Byrd
Hon. Linda Carpenter
Meredith Carter
Michael Cawley
Hon. Anne Marie Coyle
Michael Daly
Michael DiFebbo
Thomas Fitzpatrick
Michelle Forsell
Rhonda Fulginiti
John Fuller
Roman Galas
Hon. Michael Green
Joseph Gushue
Hon. Elizabeth Hey
Sarah J. Keaton
John Kopesky
Dale Larrimore
Patrick MacAvoy
Sean Mahoney
Maureen McBride
Francis McDevitt
Nicole Moshang
K.T. Newton
Lisa Lamb Port
Scott Reidenbach
Pete Ricchiuti
Edward Robson
Riley Ross
Stuart Smith
Russell Soloway
Rosalie Spelman
Brennan Torregrossa
Lane Vines
Sol Weiss
Thomas Wilkinson
Marc Zucker

Olivia Arasim
Bernadette Berger Silver
Brittany Bickel
Emily Bley
Evan Butts
Maggie Clark
Alice Douglas
Gregory Ferroni
Samantha Fitzpatrick
Meaghan Geatens
Jake Glancy
Ishmail Harris
Vanessa Huber
Jason Kaner
Abby Kelley
Jason Kurtkya
Keith Lee
Rachel Levy
Victoria Mazzola
Christopher Merken
Marisa Pescatore
Gabriella Scott
Ryan Raymond
Addia Rodriguez
Vanessa Ruggiero
Maggie Barker Taylor
Alexa Terribilini
Lindsey Wilkinson
Taylor Williams

J. Clayton Undercofler III, Esq. '66 Distinguished Service Award

The Villanova University School of Law J. Willard O'Brien American Inn of Court J. Clayton Undercofler III Award is presented by the Villanova School of Law Inn to individuals who have demonstrated through his or her career and service to the Inn an exemplary level of leadership and integrity, as well as a dedication to the highest standards of the legal profession and the rule of law.

J. Clayton Undercofler III, a member of the Villanova School of Law Class of 1966, assisted in co-founding the Villanova School of Law J. Willard O'Brien American Inn of Court in 2000 and served as a member of the Inn's Executive Committee, initially as the Inn's first Program Chair and later as its second Counselor. Just before Clayton was to assume the presidency of the Inn in 2004, he was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurodegenerative brain disease that has no known cause, treatment or cure. Sadly, Clayton passed away in 2007.

Clayton had an extraordinary legal career in Philadelphia, and was a well-known trial lawyer and public servant. He was a partner and past chairman of Saul Ewing LLP, where he practiced in the firm's Litigation Department and was a member of the White Collar and Government Enforcement and Antitrust Practice Groups. Prior to joining Saul Ewing, Clayton was a partner of Dilworth, Paxson, Kellish and Kaufman, and earlier served as an Assistant United States Attorney.

A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Clayton tried to verdict criminal cases in a defense capacity, as a prosecutor, and as a special prosecutor. In particular, he was Counsel to the House Republican Managers in the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Rolf Lauren.

Clayton also served as Chairman of the Board of Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority from 1988 to 1993. In that capacity, he presided over an extensive reorganization and revitalization of the region's transportation system. He also served as a visiting assistant professor of law at the Villanova School of Law.

In 2005, Clayton was honored by the Villanova School of Law Alumni Association with the Gerald Abraham Alumni Association Award for Service to the Villanova School of Law. He was also honored with Bar Medal from the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2004; was designated a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" by Philadelphia Magazine and Law and Politics Magazine (2004); appeared in The Best Lawyers in America, 2002-2003 Edition, and all earlier editions, Woodward White; named "Citizen of the Year for 1991" by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the March of Dimes; presented with the Regional Leadership Award in 1990, by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, KYW Newsradio, and Leadership Inc.; received the Federal Bar Association Younger Federal Lawyer Award, 1973; and received the Special Award for Assistant United States Attorneys, 1971.

Join the Nova Network, Villanova's official social and professional network, to find Villanovans in your industry and local area, discuss career-related topics and access resources for your professional development.

Recent Recognition from the American Inns of Court

2023: Kathleen D. Wilkinson '81 and Thomas G. Wilkinson Jr. '81 were awarded the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award in the Third Circuit

2023-24: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2022-23: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2021-22: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2020-21: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2019-20: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2018-19: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2017-18: Achievers of Excellence - Platinum

2016-17: Achievers of Excellence - Gold

J. WILLARD O'BRIEN AMERICAN INN OF COURT

Become A Member

Membership Dues

Membership Categories

Application Requirements

Meeting Schedule

2024–25

Officers & Members

Officers

Honorary Masters

Masters

Barristers

Associates

Pupils

J. Clayton Undercofler III, Esq. '66 Distinguished Service Award

Past Recipients

About J. Clayton Undercofler III, Esq. '66

GET INVOLVED

Recent Recognition from the American Inns of Court