Executive summary: Fall renewal

Mischa Buford Epps, Missouri Bar executive director

With its brisk days, chilly air, and crunching leaves, fall ushers in a sense of renewal and possibility. I’m feeling especially invigorated after connecting with so many of you at our Annual Meeting and Judicial Conference in Branson. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, learn, and collaborate with lawyers and judges from across the state. Thank you to all the attendees, presenters, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, and staff who made this year’s Annual Meeting a success. 

At this yearly gathering, lawyers and judges network and strengthen relationships, hold essential business meetings, and the bar transitions into new leadership. With that, I want to give a sincere thank you to Shelly Dreyer for her time, leadership, and commitment during her term as 2024-2025 Missouri Bar president, helping us navigate 2025’s rapid changes and challenges to better serve our members, clients, and communities.

As we look to the year ahead, I also want to extend a warm welcome to Athena Dickson as she steps into the role of 2025-2026 president of The Missouri Bar. Athena’s 20-plus years of experience, past leadership roles, and passion for the profession will no doubt enhance the work she does as president. Be sure to read her first “President’s Page” column and her profile feature.

At Annual Meeting, I was also excited to see several deserving lawyers recognized with awards applauding their work and dedication to trial and appellate advocacy, professionalism, community service, administration of justice, and more. Visit MoBar.org/Awards to read about the commendable work your fellow lawyers are doing, and remember to nominate someone in your circle for consideration next year. 

If you are feeling inspired by these lawyers like I am, the new bar year is a perfect time to renew your passion for helping others and get involved. Whether you are among our newest lawyers sworn in at the Fall Enrollment Ceremonies, our recently recognized Senior Counselors, or somewhere in between, The Missouri Bar offers countless ways lawyers can give back to their Missouri communities and the legal profession.

Volunteer with the Missouri.FreeLegalAnswers.org clinic to answer questions from low-income Missourians on a specific civil legal issue. Visit the bar’s website to connect with pro bono opportunities throughout the state and help improve access to legal services. Volunteer to share your knowledge and insights with other legal professionals by presenting a CLE or writing an article for the Journal of The Missouri Bar. Join one of the bar’s 40-plus committees and help develop legal education programs and advocate for relevant legislative matters that impact practitioners and Missourians. 

In celebration of the Sept. 17 Constitution Day during Annual Meeting, Chief Justice Brent Powell and President Dickson spoke to more than 75 high school juniors at Branson High School. They were among dozens of lawyers across the state helping to increase understanding of our legal system. You can follow their lead. Contact the bar at CitizenshipEducation@mobar.org to volunteer to present to students or adults in your community about the role of lawyers, judges, and the courts in our governmental system of constitutional checks and balances. 

In recognition of the importance of access to legal services throughout the state, the bar recently launched a new special committee to examine the current state of legal practice in rural Missouri. With an 18-month timeframe, the committee has commenced its work led by Lewis County Judge Corey Moon, chair, and Immediate Past President Shelly Dreyer, co-chair. 

There is much to look forward to in the 2025-2026 Missouri Bar year. I hope you too feel renewed this fall to embrace the opportunities this new year brings to build a brighter future for our profession, the rule of law, and legal services available to our fellow Missourians. 

Best regards,
Mischa