2022-23 Leadership Academy class excited to give back to community

The 2022-23 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy class officially launched Thursday, with the 12 selected lawyers meeting at the Bar Center in Jefferson City to learn more about bar resources and leadership opportunities the class can anticipate over the next year.

Founded in 2000, the Leadership Academy encourages diversity among the bar’s leadership by recruiting and targeting young lawyers or those recently admitted to the bar. The class completes a service project every year and participates in the bar’s Annual Meeting, Board of Governors meetings, committee meetings, and leadership workshops. The Leadership Academy classes are diverse in terms of gender, race, practice area, and geography.

Cailynn Hayter, with Shook, Hardy & Bacon in Kansas City, is one of the 12 exceptional lawyers selected for this year’s Leadership Academy class. While Hayter is eager to learn more about The Missouri Bar and hone her leadership skills, she said she is also thrilled to participate in opportunities to give back to communities throughout the state.

“When you come together with a group of lawyers, you can achieve this common goal of giving back to our communities across the state,” said Hayter, adding that she also hopes the Leadership Academy will help her get more involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion projects.

Hon. Patricia Breckenridge, judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri, and Hon. Lisa Page, judge with Missouri Court of Appeals-Eastern District, spoke with the class Thursday. They offered advice and told personal stories about lessons they learned as professional leaders.

“(Leadership Academy) inspires young lawyers to get involved and understand the opportunities the bar offers to do good – not just in supporting lawyers and promoting lawyers in the profession, but also doing good in our communities as a whole,” Breckenridge said.

Leadership Academy co-advisor Angela Kennedy understands the doors the program can open.  As a 2020-21 academy alumna, Kennedy said she values the relationships she formed with her classmates and the skills she developed. Now, she is excited to help other lawyers develop their individual leadership talents and she encourages others to apply for future academy classes.

“I don’t think there is a better way to learn about how you can start contributing to the bar,” she said. “It’s also a great way to learn about yourself and your leadership style and grow the confidence and skillset to effectively lead.”

Following completion of the program in fall 2023, class members commit to serving The Missouri Bar for two years – such as volunteering on committees or the Board of Governors, speaking at MoBarCLE events, or authoring articles for the Journal of The Missouri Bar.