Jennifer M. Crompton to emphasize education during 2026-2027 Missouri Bar presidency

Nicole Roberts-Hillen is assistant director of communications and editor at The Missouri Bar.

As 2026-2027 Missouri Bar president, St. Louis lawyer Jennifer M. Crompton hopes to empower Missouri lawyers to even better serve their clients and communities through a focus on education — informing lawyers and Missourians about judicial retention elections, access to legal services in rural communities, and alternative dispute resolution programs. 

Crompton, a chief operating officer and trial lawyer, began her term Sept. 17 when she was sworn in during the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar in Kansas City. 

Meet Crompton 

As a first-generation lawyer, Crompton said she did not know many lawyers growing up. During her undergraduate studies at Michigan State University, she began working at a law firm answering phones, organizing files, making copies, and other tasks. Crompton then decided to work as a hotline operator at Legal Services of South Central Michigan, helping women in crisis. 

“I had never met anyone in such dire situations who sometimes were unable to speak English,” Crompton said. “That was triggering for me … and I realized I could really help people.” 

Crompton graduated from Saint Louis University School of Law, launching the start of a more than two-decade legal career. 

She was first an associate attorney at a St. Louis law firm, with a focus in bankruptcy law, before becoming a trial lawyer for the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office. There, for the next 11 years, she tried serious felony cases ranging from drug trafficking and robbery to child abuse and domestic violence. She later became counsel and director of ADR at Lexitas, where she managed the business components of the alternative dispute resolution company, assisted with litigation, communicated with parties involved in mediations and arbitrations, and more. 

Now, Crompton is chief operating officer and trial attorney at Crompton Pancoast, LLC, a role she has held since January 2025. No day is the same, she said. As COO, she is responsible for the procedural operations of the law firm, including case management, personnel needs, and day-to-day operations. As a trial attorney, she helps individuals impacted by crime and their families work through the justice system. 

“People are confused by the justice system and it’s overwhelming,” said Crompton. “It’s beneficial to have your lawyer’s experience and advice to counsel your way through it.” 

Crompton is also an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University School of Law, teaching courses in mediation and trial advocacy. 

Along with her work at Crompton Pancoast, LLC and SLU Law, Crompton has served on several Missouri Bar committees and boards including the Board of Governors, Young Lawyers’ Section Council, and Fee Dispute Resolution Committee. She is a past president of the Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater St. Louis, past chair of several Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis committees, and a member of the Missouri Bar Foundation and the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations.

Presidency 

As Crompton steps into her new role as Missouri Bar president, she said she is both excited and nervous. 

“I love being of service, so this is the ultimate way to give back,” Crompton said. “We’re going to do our best to move the bar forward and improve the lives of Missourians.” 

While The Missouri Bar offers numerous services and resources to help improve the legal profession, the administration of justice, and the law on behalf of the public, Crompton said there are three areas she is particularly passionate about: judicial retention elections, access to legal services in rural communities, and alternative dispute resolution programs. 

Education Outreach Network 

Throughout her presidency, Crompton plans to highlight the Education Outreach Network, which The Missouri Bar created to help inform the public about judicial retention elections and Missouri’s Non-Partisan Court Plan, also known as The Missouri Plan, by matching volunteer lawyers with interested community groups. 

By helping Missourians understand the benefits of merit selection and the judicial retention process, Crompton said, lawyers can help preserve confidence in the courts and the rule of law. 

“For the public, especially, faith in our system, faith in our lawyers, faith in our judges is imperative,” she said. “I think as lawyers, it’s our duty to get the real truth out there, educate the public … (and) set the record — this is what The Missouri Plan is, the history of it, why it’s so important, and why we’re proud of it.”

These presentations also humanize legal professionals, Crompton added, which is important since many Missourians only interact with lawyers or judges during stressful situations. 

Rural practice 

During her presidency, Crompton said she also wants to learn if all Missourians have access to legal services, and, if there is a disparity, how the bar can help bridge that gap. As a member of the bar’s Special Committee on Rural Practice, she emphasized its work in researching the state of rural practice in Missouri. 

“We are here to serve the people,” Crompton said. “If we are not accessible, they may turn to other resources or may never pursue their legal rights because they are unaware of the options available to them.” 

Crompton encouraged lawyers and judges to take the bar’s surveys regarding their experiences practicing in rural areas. Lawyers can take the survey at MoBar.org/MORuralLawyers. Judges can take the judicial survey at MoBar.org/MORuralJudges. 

Lawyers can also share the public survey with friends, family, neighbors, and groups they participate in. The public survey is available at MoBar.org/RuralLegalSurvey. The results will help the bar assess the state of rural practice in Missouri and determine if it can take any actions to help increase access to legal services. 

Alternative dispute resolution programs 

Lastly, Crompton would like lawyers and Missourians to know about The Missouri Bar’s three no-cost alternative dispute resolution programs:

• The Fee Dispute Resolution Program helps address fee disputes between Missouri lawyers and clients.
• The Lawyer-to-Lawyer Dispute Resolution Program offers a mediation-like process and binding arbitration to resolve disputes between lawyers over money and property issues, as well as complaints about professionalism matters.
• The Complaint Resolution Program works to improve the legal profession’s image through the resolution of complaints referred by the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

As a long-time volunteer with the Fee Dispute Resolution Program, Crompton said she is a “big believer” in ADR and encouraged Missouri lawyers to volunteer with or utilize the programs. 

“Even if you don’t resolve the case immediately, you have gotten yourself one step closer, maybe 10 steps closer,” she said. “You’ve learned something, there’s some kind of line of communication that opened, something has happened so maybe you can settle at a later date.” 

If you are interested in joining The Missouri Bar’s efforts to educate the public and help lawyers even better serve their clients, the bar offers several opportunities to get involved. From serving on committees and presenting CLEs to talking with students at schools, there is something for every lawyer. Visit MoBar.org to learn more.