Executive summary: A legacy of learning

Mischa Buford Epps is Missouri Bar executive director.

The law has never stood still. Today’s pace of change confronting practitioners eclipses that seen by prior generations of lawyers. New legislation and administrative actions at the federal and state level reshape practice areas at blistering speed. Courts issue rulings that redefine long-settled principles. Technology tools are transforming legal research, drafting, and client communications. 

Against this backdrop, one truth remains clear: Mastery is not a destination but a discipline. Competence is not a credential earned once and stored on a shelf. It is a living, breathing standard that must be actively maintained and continuously built upon. 

This is precisely why lawyer education and professional development are essential to The Missouri Bar’s mission. We exist not only to help regulate the profession, but to elevate it, helping Missouri lawyers even better serve their clients and communities. 

Over the years, this commitment to lawyer education has manifested itself in numerous ways. From lecture courses for lawyer veterans returning from World War II, to the 1980’s and 1990’s traveling circuit of videotaped replays of CLE presentations across the state, to 2020’s pivot to online CLEs via Zoom and WebEx in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Missouri Bar has adapted and expanded its CLE programs and offerings to assist Missouri lawyers in staying abreast of the changes reshaping their fields of practice. 

Education at the bar extends beyond formal CLE programming. We provide members a comprehensive suite of member benefits and resources designed to support every stage of your legal career. Be sure to explore our member library of practice guides, model forms, research tools and other member benefits programs that you can draw on anytime you need them at MoBar.org/LPM. 

Last year, the bar helped administer the minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) requirements under Supreme Court of Missouri Rule 15 for more than 24,940 Missouri lawyers subject to the MCLE requirements. The Missouri Bar is here to help lawyers achieve their yearly MCLE requirement by offering hundreds of timely and relevant CLEs in person and online at MoBarCLE.org, delivering real, actionable insights that lawyers can put to work immediately. 

The intensified demands of practice place new pressure on lawyer well-being, mental health, and sustainable careers. The bar also offers programs to address these realities and more. Whether you are a solo practitioner looking to sharpen your understanding of family law changes, a law firm partner exploring how to responsibly integrate AI into your practice, or a prosecutor or public defender seeking better strategies for managing stress and avoiding burnout, there is something for every lawyer. 

Many lawyers often choose to earn all their MCLE hours by attending the bar’s conferences. In 2025, there were more than 2,650 registrants for the bar’s multi-day conferences, bringing together Missouri lawyers across practice areas, settings, and career stages, creating opportunities for new connections, mentorship, and peer learning that is hard to replicate. Remember to mark your calendars for these upcoming conferences:

• 30th anniversary of the MOSOLO Small Firm Conference, June 11-13 in Osage Beach
• Bernard Edelman DWI Law & Science Seminar, July 23-24 in Lake Ozark
• Family Law Conference, Aug. 20-22 in Branson
• Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar, Sept. 16-18 in Kansas City
• Estate, Trust & Elder Law Institute, Nov. 5-6 in St. Louis

Lawyers can also find unique opportunities to earn CLE credit at no cost through Spring and Fall Committee Meetings. Last year’s Spring and Fall Committee Meetings saw more than 12,700 attendees. This year, members can look forward to the virtual Spring Committee Meetings April 27-30, providing an opportunity to collaborate with other lawyers in your practice area and learn the latest updates in your field. 

Whether you choose to earn your CLE in person, remotely, or doing self-study, you are carrying on an important legacy of life-long learning that comes with being a lawyer. The Missouri Bar is here with programs, resources, and an unwavering commitment to helping you better serve your clients and communities. I hope to see you at a future program soon!