Tanenbaum Keale LLP associates Joseph Appio, Gregory Hoffman and Christina Scarabino recently graduated from Pupils to Barristers in the Brennan-Vanderbilt American Inn of Court at the Inn’s most recent meeting. They will serve as Barristers for the 2026-2028 term.
Based in Essex County, New Jersey, the Brennan-Vanderbilt Inn of Court was formed by the 2007 merger of the William J. Brennan Inn of Court and the Arthur T. Vanderbilt Inn of Court, seeking to promote legal excellence in civil litigation and fidelity to the highest standards of professionalism.
Throughout each two-year term, Pupils receive guidance and mentorship from the Masters of the program through various meetings and presentations on specific areas of practice as well as the opportunity to practice their skills in smaller groups hosted by the preeminent firms in the area. As Appio, Hoffman and Scarabino advance to Barristers, they will be a part of the General Inn group and begin meeting with Masters regularly to discuss issues in the law in an informal setting with their peers and members of the Essex County Judiciary.
Some of the topics covered this year included how to pick a jury, how to prepare opening and closing statements, and how to conduct direct and cross examinations of fact witnesses and expert witnesses. New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Anne Patterson was the keynote speaker at the recent graduation and spoke on the importance of preserving professionalism, integrity, and civility in the practice of law.