John Challis honored for legal writing

Each year, the editorial board of the Journal of The Missouri Bar presents the W. Oliver Rasch Award to recognize an outstanding substantive article that has appeared in the publication. This year, the honor goes to John Challis, author of “Electronic Wills in Missouri: The Future is Now.” The article appeared in the November-December 2019 issue of the Journal.  

Challis, a partner in the St. Louis office of Kirkland Woods & Martinsen, notes that, while he authored the piece before the ongoing spread of COVID-19, “the challenges brought upon all attorneys in Missouri over the past year have only highlighted the need to examine and potentially change certain aspects of Missouri law. That would include the traditional execution formalities for estate planning documents.” 

He also noted the piece has created dialogue around the topic. 

“The purpose of my article was to start a conversation, and I have been very pleased not only with the number of attorneys that have read the article but want to discuss and debate the merits of various proposals,” Challis said. “That only goes to show that the Journal of The Missouri Bar remains, as it has been for 90 years, a wonderful forum in which attorneys from across the state can not only discuss recent developments in the law, but proposals for how our laws can better serve the citizens of the State of Missouri.” 

The W. Oliver Rasch Award carries with it a cash stipend of $500 from the Missouri Bar Foundation. The award is named after the late long-time member and former chair of the editorial board, which makes a recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation for its consideration. The award is presented at the Annual Meeting of The Missouri Bar. 

Click here to learn more about The Missouri Bar’s annual awards and see past recipients.