2023-24 Leadership Academy class announced
Twelve young lawyers have been selected to participate in the 2023-24 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy. Individuals selected for the program are:
- Michael Figenshau, Gray Ritter Graham, St. Louis
- Emily Goeke, Armstrong Teasdale, St. Louis
- Jackson Hobbs, Lathrop GPM LLP, Kansas City
- Jacqueline Ledezma-Ruelas, Greene County Prosecutor’s Office, Springfield
- Jessica Lile, Ricker Law Firm LLC, Overland Park, KS
- Lillian Mehler, 16th Circuit Court, Independence
- Stacey Nicks, State of Missouri Department of Social Services, Tipton
- Keya Reed-Redmond, Missouri State Public Defender System, Troy
- Blake Sherer, Platte County Prosecutor’s Office, Parkville
- Lauren Smith, MG+M Law, O’Fallon, IL
- Cale Spangler, Spangler Ward LLC, Jefferson City
- Cody Wiegers, Kranitz, Sadoun & Carpenter P.C., Dearborn
The Leadership Academy was developed in 2000 to encourage diversity among the bar’s leadership by recruiting young lawyers (those recently admitted to the bar under the age of 40 or those admitted for 10 years or fewer) who have already shown leadership qualities within their communities. Each class contains about a dozen lawyers who are diverse in terms of sex, race, ethnicity, practice area, and geography.
Leadership Academy classes participate in The Missouri Bar’s Annual Meeting, Board of Governors and committee meetings, and workshops designed to help the class learn more about the bar, develop leadership skills, and complete a service project. At the end of the year, class members commit to serve the bar in an active capacity for two years, such as serving on the Young Lawyers’ Section Council or committees, and presenting continuing legal education programs. The 2023-24 class will officially launch its year-long program in October.
Learn more about Leadership Academy and the impacts its graduates have had on the profession here.