Executive Summary: A firm foundation

Mischa Buford Epps 

This yearly gathering is always a special opportunity to network and strengthen relationships with fellow lawyers and judges, earn continuing legal education credit, conduct business of the bar, and celebrate our profession. It also marks the start of a new bar year – and a chance to recognize and reflect on all that has taken place over the last 12 months.

I want to offer a special thank you to 2021-22 Missouri Bar President John Grimm, who led our organization with dedication and a passion for celebrating the many outstanding lawyers that we have all across the state. From Maryville to St. Louis, Brookfield to Holcomb, and many places in between, John has traversed Missouri, connecting with members and sharing ways the bar can help members even better serve their clients and communities. We are all better for his work.

We are excited to welcome Lauren Tucker McCubbin as 2022-23 bar president. She is not unfamiliar with the position, as her father, Laurence Tucker, held it from 1995-96, but Lauren is certainly bringing her own flair as a leader with deep experience serving at local, state, and national bar levels. Read her profile piece and first President’s Message to Missouri lawyers in this issue.

You’ll also want to take a look at our 2022 Annual Meeting award recipients. A deserving slate of lawyers accepted recognitions this year for their work to share knowledge, lead specialty groups, and provide pro bono services. This includes five awards presented by The Missouri Bar Foundation.

Founded in 1950 as the philanthropic partner of The Missouri Bar, The Missouri Bar Foundation has a mission to promote improvement in the administration of justice by encouraging and funding law-related endeavors, recognizing exemplary legal and public service, and supporting scholarships and community projects. Over the past few years, the foundation has presented funding to offices that provide legal services to indigent and low-income Missourians, the American Legion Missouri Boys and Girls State, Missouri Lawyers’ Assistance programs, civics education efforts, and so much more. In addition, the foundation provides:

• Assistance for women lawyers in need, or their dependents, via the Eunice Cutter Cox Memorial Fund;
• Scholarships for deserving law students from Northwest Missouri via the Henry C. McDougal Northwest Missouri Legal Scholarship Fund; and
• Funding in support of special projects of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness.

The foundation seeks to grow and benefit even more Missourians. Under the charge of this year’s Missouri Bar Foundation President Lynn Ann Vogel, the foundation is offering lawyers new ways to get involved, including joining as a foundation fellow or providing monetary donations independently or as a way to honor a colleague or family member. As the calendar year draws to a close, contributing to The Missouri Bar Foundation is an ideal way to give back while also completing end-of-year giving, and donors can select to which project or initiative they want to contribute. Learn more at MoBarFoundation.org.

There is much to look forward to in the 2022-23 Missouri Bar year. I hope you all will take on the challenge to support the profession, however that may look to you.

Best regards,
Mischa