In brief: March-April 2025

Use the gratitude gram in March/April Journal to tell a colleague “thank you” 

Studies have found that expressing gratitude can help improve anxiety, depression, and stress – mental health concerns many lawyers face. As part of its project to inspire more well-being in the legal profession, the 2024-25 Missouri Bar Leadership Academy class has provided a gratitude gram on page 59 of the March/April 2025 Journal that you can use to express your appreciation to a colleague, client, judge, or opposing counsel. Fill out the gratitude gram, tear it out, and pass it along to spread some positivity.

Save $50 when you register for MOSOLO by May 6 

Join other lawyers seeking distinct, practical CLEs to enrich their practice during the MOSOLO Small Firm Conference, June 5-7 at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach. The MOSOLO Small Firm Conference will provide opportunities for lawyers to engage with other legal professionals and share specialized knowledge and skills during social and networking events. Save $50 by registering by May 6 at MOSOLO.org to get the early bird rate of $320 per person.

Words of well-being: "How do you meet clients’ needs without sacrificing your own well-being?" 

“If we are not taking care of our well-being, we are not able to fully take care of our clients. Maintaining my well-being is an important part of my legal practice and my life. Ultimately, it comes down to boundaries. Early on in my career, I realized that I needed to consider what boundaries were important so that I could keep balance with work and life. These are things like acknowledging what I need on a day-to-day basis to be organized and productive, how I communicate with clients, and working out systems with my staff to prioritize case tasks.” -Amy Rebecca Johnson, lawyer with Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal, P.C. in St. Louis

MoBar memory 

Bob Welch, president of the Kansas City Bar Association, takes part in a simulated interview with Bob Priddy, MissouriNet news director, during a training session on techniques of media interviewing at The Missouri Bar Spring Committee Meetings, May 4, 1984.

Network and collaborate with lawyers through The Missouri Bar’s committees 

With The Missouri Bar’s Spring Committee Meetings coming up April 28-May 1, now is a great time to expand your professional circle and collaborate with lawyers in your practice areas through the bar’s nearly 40 open enrollment committees. Committees are the driving force behind the work and activities of the bar. Their activities include, but are not limited to, developing and presenting CLE programs, increasing public understanding of the law, and developing programs to help lawyers improve the efficiency of their practices. Missouri lawyers can join one or multiple committees at no cost any time at MoBar.org/Committees-Sections.

Tech tip: Phishing is now more than just email 

Did you know that phishing extends beyond email? Scammers are starting to branch out to other communication mediums, including text messages, direct messages on social media, and even voice calls with AI-generated voices of people you know. Have a plan to confront these situations so you can best protect you and your clients’ information. If something feels off, it is best to verify the source of the message. For voice calls, you can hang up and call back at the number you have on file.

Save the date

Spring enrollment ceremony | April 25 | Jefferson City 

Spring Committee Meetings | April 28-May 1 | MoBar.org/SCM25 

Well-Being Week in Law | May 5-9 | MoBar.org/WWIL2025 

Board of Governors meeting | May 9 | Jefferson City 

MOSOLO Small Firm Conference | June 5-7 | Osage Beach 

MCLE deadline | June 30 | MoBar.org/MCLEreporting