Dozens of #NewMOLawyers sworn in during 2026 Spring Enrollment Ceremony
Fighting back tears, new lawyer Lizeth Vargas smiled for photos with her family on the steps of the Supreme Court of Missouri building Friday morning, her oath of admission proudly held in her hands.
Vargas was one of more than 30 individuals who were sworn into the legal profession before judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri, officers of The Missouri Bar, and members of the Missouri Board of Law Examiners during the Spring Enrollment Ceremony in Jefferson City. Those lawyers were among the 70 people who passed the February 2026 Bar Exam. View photos from today’s enrollment ceremony on The Missouri Bar’s Facebook page.
“I wanted to cry [during the enrollment ceremony] and I was holding it in,” Vargas said, “but then I came out and my daughter was crying, so it’s making it really hard not to cry.”
Vargas’ three young children were so excited to see their mother’s swearing-in ceremony that they woke up at 4:30 a.m. to be there, she added.
After all the long hours attending the University of Missouri School of Law and studying for the bar exam, Vargas said she was proud of herself for persevering and accomplishing her goal.
“I was studying and doing this for them,” she said, nodding towards her children. “So, hopefully this will be a good experience, and they will remember that they can do it and achieve their dreams if they work hard enough.”
For new lawyer William Hurt, the enrollment ceremony opened a new, exciting chapter. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, Hurt hopes to one day utilize his law degree in the sports industry.
“There’s a world of opportunities that weren’t there a few months ago, and now I get to do what I want, where I want, and go after things I always wanted to,” Hurt said.
Nearby, new lawyer Courtney Maurice Jordan could be heard repeatedly saying, “I couldn’t have done it without you” to his family.
A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Jordan encouraged law students and those studying for the bar to have a strong support system and take each day at a time.
“One spoonful at a time,” he said. “Just a little bit. It might not be 100% today, but 10% or whatever you got each day, and eventually that adds up.”
The Missouri Bar is here to help lawyers in all stages of their careers. Enrollees can view the plethora of resources available to them at MoBar.org/New-Members. In addition, The Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section sent welcome packets to the state’s enrollees.
“As you go through your careers, don’t hesitate to reach out to others — we want you to succeed and have the tools to even better serve your clients and communities,” said Athena Dickson, 2025-2026 Missouri Bar president.