Executive summary: A year of resiliency

Mischa Buford Epps, Missouri Bar executive director

As I reflect on the past year, one word continues to come to mind: resiliency. In times of uncertainty, people look to lawyers for guidance. And, in Missouri, you deliver. 

In 2025, lawyers across the state came together to help those affected by this spring’s tornadoes and severe weather that hit the St. Louis metro area and southeastern Missouri. Scores of volunteer lawyers mobilized to assist those who lost homes and businesses. As of Nov. 19, volunteer lawyers in Missouri have answered over 1,900 questions and assisted more than 1,650 clients through Missouri.FreeLegalAnswers.org this year, our virtual “clinic” where members of the public can ask up to three non-criminal legal questions a year and hear from a lawyer, sometimes within hours. Missouri lawyer volunteers also responded to provide legal help to affected citizens who contacted the bar’s disaster legal assistance hotline. These efforts do not go unseen — thank you for the direct impact you’ve made on those going through challenging times. 

This year also tested our profession with expansive, rapid changes to federal and state laws and agencies. We’ve seen and navigated challenges to separation of powers, the ability to represent clients without repercussions, and the importance of judges being able to render decisions without attack or undue political influence. In celebration of Constitution Day, dozens of lawyers and judges volunteered their time to speak to classes — impacting more than 2,000 students from Branson to Cardwell. These young people saw firsthand that lawyers and judges are real people who care about justice, democracy, and their communities. That investment in civic education is itself an act of resilience. 

We’re also adapting to the increasing influence of artificial intelligence on legal practice. Rather than resist change, Missouri lawyers are engaging thoughtfully with these tools, asking critical questions about ethics, competence, and access to justice while embracing innovation that serves our clients better. 

In 2025, we also welcomed more than 543 new lawyers to the profession who demonstrated resilience during law school. I, along with Missouri Bar officers, Supreme Court of Missouri judges, and other leaders, had the chance to congratulate them and hear about some of their plans, and I’m excited to see the ways they make our profession even stronger. A full list of individuals who passed the July bar exam and met all other requirements for admittance is on page 290.

The legal profession is ripe with caring colleagues who offer support and mentorship to their peers. I’ve enjoyed meeting and learning about your experiences during this year’s Missouri Bar CLE programs, conferences, and Spring and Fall Committee Meetings, which provided spaces for Missouri lawyers to collaborate, learn from one another, and make new connections. 

Conferences and meetings like MOSOLO and Annual Meeting brought together over 1,300 lawyers from across the state to collaborate and make new connections, while Spring and Fall Committee Meetings saw over 12,000 attendees participate in CLEs and committee discussions. The recent Estate, Trust & Elder Law Institute sold out at maximum capacity. These offerings help lawyers gain valuable new knowledge and skills to take back to their practices.

In June, we further expanded our member benefits program by providing all Missouri lawyers access to free billing and trust accounting software through Smokeball Bill. To date, 276 firms have signed up for this practical tool that helps them serve clients more effectively while managing their practices compliantly. 

The 2024-2025 Leadership Academy class planned and implemented new content and innovative activities for this year’s Well-being Week in Law, significantly increasing engagement. The Standing Committee on Well-Being in the Profession and MOLAP provided QPR training and no-cost CLEs this year to help Missouri lawyers learn new strategies to improve their wellbeing so they can even better serve their clients and communities. 

No matter what your efforts looked like this year, whether mentoring a young lawyer, taking a pro bono case, serving on a committee, speaking at a school, or simply treating everyone in your practice with dignity, thank you for taking the time to help others. The work you do makes our profession more resilient. Your professionalism and compassion reinforce the importance of lawyers and judges in our communities. 

Let’s head into the new year with a renewed sense of purpose and strength. 

With appreciation, 
Mischa